, Columnist
What Happened to Britain’s 7 Million Missing Patients?
Waitlists for medical services in the U.K. are growing interminable. Dissatisfaction with the NHS is the next big ticking time bomb for the Tories.
A while to wait.
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How long are you willing to wait for the doctor?
If, you need, say, a hip replacement, the wait in some parts of the U.K. is measured in years. Apart from the impact of debilitating pain on life and work, longer waits are associated with poorer outcomes. A cataract may not be so bothersome, but an extended delay in treatment could result in permanent sight loss. Routine scans might not seem not particularly time-sensitive, but in Britain (where cancer outcomes lag many other countries) a quarter of cancer diagnoses are picked up from GP referrals for other complaints.