Are we turning to self diagnosis to avoid going to our GPs?

A year after Health Secretary Wes Streeting branded the NHS as “broken”, new research reveals a deepening public crisis in confidence of the UK’s health service, as patients increasingly turn to self-diagnosis and second opinions amidst long GP wait times and growing concern over misdiagnoses.

A medical negligence specialist is warning about the risks associated with self-diagnosis as a third (31%) of people believe they have been misdiagnosed by a medical professional, with many turning to self-diagnosis or avoiding their GP entirely.

Key findings show 1 in 5 (19%) now self-diagnose online, while 27% have diagnosed themselves with a condition, bypassing professional care, according to figures by Slater and Gordon. Of those choosing self-diagnosis, 20% cite excessive waiting times as the main reason.

Ros spoke to Nadia Saber, medical negligence specialist at Slater and Gordon.