A study of 2,000 adults found 29 per cent have put off seeking help due to long waiting times, while 22 per cent have avoided seeing a health professional altogether
Lengthy NHS waiting lists are putting patients off seeking medical help – even when they are experiencing potential cancer symptoms, new research has revealed. The survey of 2,000 adults discovered that 29 per cent have postponed getting assistance because of extended waiting times, whilst 22 per cent have completely avoided consulting a healthcare professional.
Most worryingly, one in five individuals delayed visiting their GP despite spotting possible signs of cancer. However, medical experts are cautioning that such behaviour could result in symptoms going undetected or not being identified until at a later stage when the chances of survival are reduced.
NHS figures show that over a third of melanomas are discovered through standard pathways rather than urgent referrals – suggesting that backlogs in these services could be concealing additional undiagnosed cancers.
This comes against a backdrop of unprecedented NHS waiting lists, with around 7.4 million treatments pending for 6.25 million patients across England.
More than half of those awaiting treatment have yet to receive any clinical contact, whilst over 1,400 individuals have been waiting beyond 18 months to start routine care.
The research was funded by Skin Analytics, which focuses on AI-powered skin cancer detection and collaborates with 27 NHS trusts throughout the UK.
Patients have become increasingly receptive to solutions that accelerate access to healthcare, with 79 per cent saying they would have confidence in AI for medical assessments.
Neil Daly, founder and CEO of the healthtech company, said: “The real danger comes not from technology, but from waiting months for answers while cancer can progress.
“AI tools show that regulated technology can safely reduce that risk – giving patients timely answers and freeing up doctors’ time to focus where it matters most. The NHS now has a duty to use proven innovation to protect patients.”
Three quarters think the NHS has a responsibility to implement technologies that are proven to enhance patient outcomes. The fact that AI won’t be affected by fatigue like humans and is more economical were among the advantages mentioned.
However, the study, carried out by OnePoll, revealed some of the perceived drawbacks of AI being utilised in healthcare settings – the most significant being a lack of compassion. This was followed by a lack of responsibility if something goes wrong and the dependence on technology leading to a decline in human expertise.
Nevertheless, confidence in AI increases dramatically when backed by doctors or demonstrated to surpass clinicians, with 36 per cent believing that regulated AI will eventually be superior at providing medical evaluations than human doctors.
Lynsey Robertson, a GP practice manager, had ignored a mole for years because she did not want to “waste a doctor’s time” – until the AI flagged it as melanoma.
She said: “I’d always put it off, assuming it was nothing. When the AI flagged it and I got a quick diagnosis, I was shocked at how serious it was. Without it, I might still be waiting – or not have gone at all.”
Dr Saleem Taibjee, consultant dermatologist and clinical lead at Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Skin cancer is now the most common cancer in England, making up more than one in five urgent cancer referrals, and pressure on services means many patients are waiting longer than they should have to, or delaying seeking help.
“By helping dermatologists triage referrals quickly and accurately, AI helps us prioritise cases like these and reduce delays.
“AI will not completely replace clinical expertise, but it is becoming an essential tool to help us manage rising demand, reduce backlogs, and ensure patients like Lynsey get the right care at the right time.”
Neil Daly, from Skin Analytics, which has seen its skin cancer detection system, DERM, became the world’s first AI legally authorised to detect cancer in patients without a doctor present, added: “What this research shows is that while not everyone fully grasps the risks of delay, people increasingly see the potential for safe, regulated AI to protect patients.
“Concerns about empathy and accountability are valid, but AI is never about replacing doctors – it’s about supporting them to deliver better, faster care.”
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