The doctor is too difficult to make an appointment! The rise of "self-help medicine" in the UK has caused professionals to worry

　　[Global Times Comprehensive Report] The latest survey shows that self-help medical care is emerging in the UK.

Because they cannot make an appointment with a doctor, nearly a quarter of patients choose to buy medicines in pharmacies or online to treat their diseases. This situation has aroused the concern of professionals.

　　According to the British "Guardian" report on January 2, a survey covering 2,061 British adults showed that 16% of the respondents had to "see a doctor" or find a doctor because it was difficult to make an appointment with a general practitioner. Treatment by professionals.

The survey also found that 11% of British people had to pay for private medical care. This finding is consistent with the data from the Office for National Statistics of the United Kingdom, that is, many British people can only use private doctors, which shows that British patients are becoming more and more difficult. Access to the National Public Health Service.

　　Regarding such a medical situation, the leader of the British Liberal Democratic Party, Ed David, said that delays in general practitioner appointments are very common and have now become a national problem, especially in some parts of the UK, general practitioners who can treat patients face-to-face Physicians "have all but disappeared."

David said: "We have a serious problem now - because people can't make appointments with local GPs, they can only treat themselves and even prescribe their own medicines."

　　Not only the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party accused the British government of neglecting the construction of the national medical service system for a long time, and violated its promise to strengthen and strengthen the general practitioner team. Richard Meraz, vice chairman of the England General Practitioner Council, also said: " While self-care and consultation with a pharmacy is the right option for some patients with mild illness, there is still a risk they may not be managing their condition properly. The lack of GP appointments is a concern."

　　Margaret Ikbo, deputy president of the Royal College of General Practitioners in the UK, said: "We understand the pain and frustration of patients when they cannot get GP appointments. But we cannot put the blame on GPs. Under extremely difficult circumstances, we still do our best to meet the medical needs of patients."

　　According to Adrian Boyle, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine in the United Kingdom, seasonal flu has caused serious medical problems in the UK this winter: "The increase in mortality is related to long waiting times, and 300 to 500 people a week are due to Deaths due to emergency delays.” In the face of criticism from medical professionals, the British Ministry of Health responded that it was aware of the pressure on GPs and was working hard to increase patients’ access to a doctor.

The British Ministry of Health stated: "Since 2019, we have recruited more than 21,000 general practitioners. Since November last year, more than two-thirds of patients have been able to make appointments for on-site consultation." (Han Lin)

　　(Source: Global Times)