The charity Age UK said older people in the UK are also worried about their ability to get hospital appointments and emergency care
Nearly half of over-50s are concerned about how difficult it is to access their GP.
The charity Age UK, which published the findings, said that equates to 12.6 million people. Older people are also worried about their ability to get hospital appointments and emergency care.
One stroke patient said he cannot afford to wait on hold to his GP practice because of phone charges. David, who did not want to give his surname, said: “I cannot afford to stay on the phone. Costs keep going up. I feel sorry for the staff, they’ve told me several times, ‘We wish we could do more’. I do struggle.
“I’m not alone, there are countless others in the same situation.” Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: “Sadly, for some older people, healthcare delayed means healthcare denied, because they do not have time on their side. Our new analysis highlights just how many are being subjected to distress and, in some cases, enduring pain, because of their difficulties in accessing the GP services they need.” Age UK is calling for more investment in primary care, GP practices and community services.
An NHS spokeswoman said: “While eight out of 10 older people report a positive overall experience of their practice, the NHS is upgrading telephone systems to further improve experience and ensure GPs continue delivering record numbers of appointments.
“The NHS Long Workforce Plan commits to increasing GP training places by 50% to help provide further continuity of care, including for older people or those with complex needs.”
The poll questioned 2,621 adults over the age of 50, alongside an online survey of 17,000 people.
