Scared patients are suffering in silence

TO prevent the NHS being swamped by the pandemic, ministers issued a stark warning to the public: Stay at home, save lives.

The message proved highly successful, with the health service never coming remotely close to collapse. But there has been a disturbing unintended consequence.

Terrified of catching coronavirus or being a burden, many patients – some with lifethreatening conditions – are refusing to see their GP.

Instead, countless people finding abnormal lumps, experiencing chest pains or having breathing difficulties are suffering in silence.

Today, we lay bare the problem’s alarming scale. One person in three has delayed seeing a doctor. And four in ten of those questioned would avoid making an appointment for fear of contracting Covid.

This reluctance means that not only will lives be blighted by pain and worry, in a grim irony some will tragically consign themselves to an early grave.

Meanwhile, the speed at which the NHS is returning to normality is snail-like. Twothirds of patients cannot see their doctor face-to-face, with the majority of consultations conducted by telephone or Skype.

For those with minor ailments who feel there’s no need to attend the surgery, there’s nothing wrong with virtual appointments.

But while digital solutions have their place, they shouldn’t become the automatic option. Many signs of illness are discernible only by sight or touch. They might not be detected via a telephone line or computer screen.

And the elderly, who are less likely to be technically adept, could find themselves not reporting symptoms.

Yes, technology is useful. But it’s no substitute for the unique human connection between doctor and patient.