NHS Waiting Lists Drive Patients To Risky Choices — With Many Delaying Cancer Checks As Trust In AI Surges

A new study has revealed how NHS waiting lists are pushing patients into risky choices – with some delaying or even avoiding care altogether, despite potential cancer symptoms.

The survey of 2,000 adults found nearly a third (29%) have put off seeking care due to long waits, while more than one in five (22%) admit they have avoided seeking care altogether. Alarmingly, one in five (20%) delayed seeing a doctor even after noticing possible cancer symptoms.

Doctors warn this behaviour could mean hundreds of cancers are going undiagnosed, or being caught later when survival chances are reduced. NHS data shows that more than a third of melanomas are picked up on routine pathways rather than urgent referrals – meaning delays in those lists could be hiding further undetected cancers.

Amid this backdrop, the study also found patients are increasingly open to solutions that speed up access to care. Eight in ten (79%) Britons said they would trust AI in healthcare assessments, nine in ten (92%) said speed is vital, and nearly three quarters (71%) believe regulated AI could help reduce NHS wait times.

73% of respondents said the NHS has a duty of care to deploy technologies that are proven to improve outcomes for patients. The fact that AI won’t suffer from tiredness as a human would (24%) and is more cost effective (21%) were also among the benefits cited.

These views come against the backdrop of record NHS waiting lists, with more than 7.4 million treatments outstanding for 6.25 million patients in England. More than half of those waiting have yet to receive any clinical contact, while more than 1,400 people have been waiting over 18 months to begin routine treatment.

Skin Analytics, the healthtech company behind the research, specialises in AI-driven skin cancer detection and works with 27 NHS trusts across the UK. Its skin cancer detection system, DERM, recently became the world’s first AI legally authorised to detect cancer in patients without a doctor present, after receiving EU MDR Class III certification – the highest level of regulatory approval for a medical device.

Neil Daly, founder and CEO of Skin Analytics, said: “The real danger comes not from technology, but from waiting months for answers while cancer can progress. Too many patients are delaying or avoiding care altogether because they don’t believe they will get seen. AI tools like ours 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.”

The survey, conducted by OnePoll, did highlight some of the perceived limitations of AI being used in medical settings. A lack of empathy was the biggest concern (27%), followed by a lack of accountability if something goes wrong (24%) and the reliance on the tech meaning a reduction in human skills (17%).

However, trust in AI soars when endorsed by doctors or shown to outperform clinicians, and more than a third of respondents (36%) said they believe that regulated AI will eventually be better at giving medical assessments than human doctors.

For patients, the impact is already real. 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 (& Clinical Lead) + Consultant Dermatopathologist 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.

“For Lynsey, AI meant her skin cancer was detected promptly and appropriately referred for treatment – potentially the difference between an early, highly treatable cancer and a much more serious outcome.

“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 adds: “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. Crucially, tools like ours can also help build a more sustainable healthcare system by reducing pressure on stretched services and ensuring doctors’ time is focused where it’s needed most.”