Patients put off by high costs

An independent survey has revealed that around 20 per cent of Britons postpone having their eyes tested on average for more than one year, with lack of time and high cost being the main reasons for the delay. Healthcare insurance provider HealthSure commissioned the research to find out by how much people put off visits to the doctors, opticians and dentists. When people put off a visit to the doctor they do so for 10 months, to the dentist for 18 months and to the optician for over 12 months. The survey, conducted by the Consumer Analysis Group among 500 individuals aged between 30 and 70 years old, found that one in five people has delayed a visit to the optician. Three per cent of these delayed despite 'squinting and bumping into things' according to the research. A lack of time (45 per cent) and concern about cost (44 per cent) were the main reasons for delay. For dentists the main reasons were fear (43 per cent) and concern over cost (29 per cent), while postponing a doctor's appointment was mainly due to concern for wasting the GP's time (33 per cent). Optical patients in the East Midlands and Wales were least likely to procrastinate, while those in the West Midlands and Yorkshire were most neglectful in making in an appointment. Jan Walsh, author of the report, said: 'Britons must be persuaded to take better care of their health and seek treatment earlier but this will only be possible if worries about cost are alleviated.' rob.mossrbi.co.uk