Cutbacks to the NHS m...

NHS cuts to lead to 'longer waiting times and denied treatment'

Cutbacks to the NHS mean Britons are worried they will have to join longer than ever waiting lists for treatment and could even be turned away for treatment, a new study suggests.

According to a survey by health insurance firm Simplyhealth, more than half of Britons say they expect to wait longer and 45% are concerned that the cuts mean they'll be denied care.

Department of Health figures show that the number of Britons waiting for more than six weeks for NHS tests has quadrupled in a year. In June, 12,521were waiting for more than six weeks for vital health tests.

Simplyhealth says that as a result, 59% of Britons are considering going private to be spared the worry of waiting. It offers cash plans, which isn't traditional health insurance.

Instead, cash plans pay out sums of money if policyholders are kept in NHS hospitals for treatment, or for treatments such as dental check-ups, sight tests and some complementary therapies.

Cash plans are far cheaper than medical insurance – protection can cost as little as £10 a month - but the cover is very different. Private health or medical insurance pays for treatment in private hospitals - although there are different levels of cover depending on how much you want to pay.