PATIENTS encountering administrative problems in the NHS are less likely to seek care in the future, according to research.

Health groups the King’s Fund, Healthwatch England and National Voices, also warned in their report that the government’s aim to slash NHS waiting lists “will fail” if the health service “cannot communicate effectively with people.”

They said the “day-to-day dysfunction in how the NHS communicates” with patients is having a negative impact on people’s experience of the health service.

The research found that in the previous 12 months 64 per cent of patients had experienced communication issues.

Almost a third said they had to chase results following a test, scan or X-ray while the same proportion were not kept updated on how long they would have to wait for treatment, it said.

A fifth said they received a letter for an appointment after it was supposed to take place.

The survey also found that of the people who had experienced at least one admin issue, more than four in 10 (42 per cent) said they would be less likely to seek care in the future.

Chief executive of Healthwatch England Louise Ansari warned of the “particular heavy burden” placed on disabled people when admin errors leave patients having to sort out the problem.

Royal College of GPs vice-chairwoman Dr Victoria Tzortziou-Brown said admin errors add to the “bureaucratic workload” to already severely short-staffed family doctors.

An NHS spokesperson said: “This timely report highlights yet another consequence of the long-term capital starvation faced by the NHS, with too many organisations still struggling with outdated tech and data systems to support effective patient administration.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “We are upgrading the NHS app, so patients can book and rearrange appointments, choose which hospital to be treated at, receive test results, and choose if they want to be seen in person or remotely.”