Over HALF (58%) of London patients have had their medical treatment delayed by the NHS since the pandemic began. This is the highest percentage of delay in England, and has resulted in 43% of locals seeing their condition get worse as a result.

New survey data commissioned by a leading UK medical negligence law firm questioned 2,000 nationally representative Brits to lift the lid on delays in medical care due to COVID-19.

Patient Claim Line uncovered that shockingly, Londoners were still the most confident that they’ll get the medical treatment that they need this year despite having the highest infection rates in the UK.

1 in 5 Londoners who had NHS treatment scheduled since the pandemic started have delayed their own treatment, and a further 27% are considering or planning to do so.

Incidentally, HALF of those who delayed their own treatment have seen their condition worsen as a result.

The main reason that Londoners are delaying their own treatment is due to fears of catching COVID during medical appointments, with 60% of Londoners sharing this concern. Some also delayed their treatment to avoid putting an additional strain on the NHS, with 29% of participants citing this as another reason that they pushed back their treatment.

Regardless, respect for the NHS within the region was clear, with 81% of London residents confessing that they appreciate the NHS more now than before the pandemic.

Patient Claim Line’s Senior Solicitor, Hannah Luscombe, and Senior Litigation Executive, Kirsty Parkes, have released exclusive comments about your legal rights if general surgery or treatment is delayed due to the pandemic and who is eligible to make a medical negligence claim.

Explaining the importance of getting medical care when needed, Kirsty commented:

“More and more patients are being added to waiting lists daily for “non-urgent” surgeries, for example hip replacements; maxillofacial procedures; or non-urgent vascular or urological procedures. In the meantime, these patients are often experiencing severe levels of pain and discomfort and are unable to carry on with their daily lives as a result. In many of these cases it is often the case that the sooner treatment is received, the better the chances are for long-term recovery.”