ONE in eight people have ignored a lump or mole that could be cancerous because they thought it would take too long to see a GP, a survey found.
A poll of 2,200 people by the Liberal Democrats revealed 13 per cent said they had ignored a worry.
AlamyLong waiting times are one of the public’s biggest issues with the NHS[/caption]
Meanwhile, 11 per cent self-diagnosed themselves using the internet and eight per cent went straight to A&E without trying their doctor.
Seven per cent of people had tried to remove a mole themselves.
It comes as the number of GP practices is falling and patient satisfaction is at an all-time low.
Waiting times for appointments are the top reason Brits are fed up with the NHS, a poll found last year.
The survey, carried out in August, also found 52 per cent of people were not confident they would get quick NHS cancer care if they were diagnosed.
Ed Davey MP said: “People are putting their health at risk by ignoring possible cancer symptoms.
“It’s shocking to see how badly people’s faith in their local health services has been broken.
“Early diagnosis and treatment of cancer is vital for improving someone’s survival, but these statistics show that some people have lost confidence that they will get it.”
Nearly 200,00 cancers are diagnosed every year in England.
Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: “Every patient who has symptoms or suspects they might have cancer should be able to see a GP when they need to.
“We share our patients’ frustrations and worries when they find it difficult to access our services, but we no longer have enough GPs to meet demand.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We are making it easier for patients to see their GP and delivered over 28million appointments in August 2023 – 78,200 more per working day compared to last year.
“We encourage people to contact their GP if they have any concerns.”