Britons have revealed their patience limits, with an eight-minute wait at a pub and an 11-week wait for surgery being commonly accepted thresholds. A survey of 2,000 adults highlighted that Brits grow irritable after waiting 10 minutes in a supermarket queue, while an eight-minute wait for a public toilet is considered tolerable. For dental appointments, six weeks is deemed reasonable, and for GP visits, three weeks is the expected wait time.
The study, conducted by Wellsoon from Practice Plus Group, found that the most frustrating delay for individuals is reaching customer service via telephone, closely followed by prolonged waits for medical appointments or being stuck in traffic. Jim Easton, the corporate leader of the brand, acknowledges the prevalence of exasperating waits in daily life, such as queuing for a drink or airport security. However, concerning healthcare, Easton emphasises the desire for reduced waiting times for GP and surgical appointments.
The research also unveiled strategies employed to lessen waiting times, with 30 per cent opting to pay extra for expedited delivery in online shopping. Additionally, 39 per cent prefer binge-watching TV shows over waiting for weekly episodes. Queue jumping is not uncommon, with 42 per cent admitting to cutting lines, and 9 per cent being repeat offenders. Nonetheless, a majority (57 per cent) believe that patience is a virtue prominent in Britain compared to other nations.
In critical situations like medical emergencies, 36 per cent find skipping queues justifiable, while 35 per cent deem it acceptable for safety concerns. Notably, nearly a quarter of Brits confess to lacking patience, with only one in six considering themselves very patient. Despite occasional outbursts of temper during waits reported by 32 per cent, genuine frustrations emerge when faced with delays in essential areas like surgery or healthcare access, as indicated by 31 per cent.
Concerns over lengthy wait times for doctor appointments are shared by 62 per cent of respondents, while a similar sentiment is echoed by 67 per cent regarding wait times for surgery appointments. Addressing the study’s revelations, Jim Easton suggests a growing interest in private healthcare as a solution to alleviate NHS wait times. Emphasising the importance of timely health treatment, Easton states that swift access to healthcare is crucial, especially for individuals in pain or distress.
A case study featured Janet Lovell, 73, from the Isle of Wight, who faced a prolonged wait for an NHS hip replacement due to Covid-related backlogs. To improve her quality of life and ensure she could care for her husband effectively, she decided to opt for private healthcare with Wellsoon from Practice Plus Group. The expedited surgery significantly improved her life quality, prompting her to seek further treatment through the same provider for her other hip replacement.
The study’s findings underscore the general impatience felt by many Britons towards wait times in various facets of life, prompting considerations for alternative healthcare options to address delays in accessing essential medical treatments.