New data has revealed just how under pressure the UK’s GPs are, with areas such as Portsmouth having just one doctor per 2,483 patients.
Yet, even where it is easier to visit local surgeries, London Medical Laboratory says 65% of men still avoid seeing a doctor for as long as possible. Many more men than women seem to suffer from ‘iatrophobia’ – a fear of visiting the doctor or medical tests.
With Men’s Health Week, the leading testing expert, Dr Quinton Fivelman PhD, chief scientific officer at London Medical Laboratory, says: ‘A simple finger-prick blood test carried out at home could take the pressure off overloaded GPs by identifying problems earlier and provide an alternative for those surgery-shy men who won’t even visit a doctor for an annual health MOT.’
‘This month, the Nuffield Trust revealed how stretched many medical practices are, with Portsmouth having only one doctor for nearly 2,500 patients. Brighton, parts of Essex and Hull also have the equivalent of just one GP for every 2,000-plus patients.’
‘Since 2016, the number of fully qualified GPs has fallen by 416. To avoid delays created by this GP postcode lottery and reassure people waiting for routine health appointments, an at-home, finger-prick blood test can give patients a comprehensive snapshot of their current health.’
‘At-home blood tests could help the many men reluctant to check in for an annual health MOT. In our most recent poll, 65% of men said they avoid going to the doctor for as long as possible. And it’s not just British men who have iatrophobia.’
‘Our finding is broadly the same as that of the Cleveland Clinic in the US. It also seems that, even when many guys attend, over a quarter of them regularly withhold information from their doctors.’
‘Of most concern, 42% of men don’t want to visit the doctor even when they observe the first signs of prostate cancer, such as having to wee more frequently at night and reduced blood flow in their urine. They put off visiting until symptoms worsen, even though the NHS says catching prostate cancer at stages 1 and 2 has a near 100% success rate.’
‘In addition, it’s estimated that over half a million men are walking around with undiagnosed diabetes, which can cause serious illness later in life and even lead to an early death.
‘In fact, a reported 72% of men would rather do household tasks like clean the bathroom than visit a doctor, so for Men’s Health Week, we want to see many more ‘man-up’ and take active measures to check their current health. That means men over 40 should book their annual GP Health Check.’
‘Those still resolutely unwilling should, at the very least, take an at-home finger-prick blood test.’
‘For example, London Medical Laboratory’s General Health Profile Test provides people with a comprehensive check-up of their general health, including a check for diabetes (HbA1c), liver and kidney function, full blood count, bone health, iron levels and a full cholesterol profile.’
‘Taking such a test will reassure most people they are healthy and identify them earlier in those cases where health problems such as prostate cancer or diabetes are found. This will save lives and reduce the costs of treatment to the NHS by thousands of pounds.
‘Likewise, an at-home Male Hormones Profile test checks the full range of men’s hormones and is very useful for giving information about fertility, planning sports and fitness programmes and monitoring testosterone supplementation.’
