- Researchers say the lack of emergency referrals caused drop-off in diagnoses
- University College London report warned thousands will die 'significantly earlier'
- Concerns too many people still struggling to get an in-person GP appointment
University College London researchers said a drop in emergency referrals from GPs last year across the UK resulted in around 40,000 late diagnoses of the disease.
These delays and longer waits for NHS treatment — fuelled by the pandemic — mean thousands will die 'significantly earlier' from the disease than would have been the case pre-pandemic.
The study of more than 2,000 adults found nearly two thirds of people worried about bothering family doctors with 'minor health problems' because of Covid.
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