Brits have revealed how long they’re happy to wait for things – including eight minutes to get served at the bar and 11 weeks for surgery.
A poll of 2,000 adults revealed that 10 minutes is the longest they will wait in the supermarket queue before getting annoyed, and eight minutes for a loo cubicle to become free.
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While 22 minutes is as long as they can bear to wait before getting a response to an important text.
When it comes to health, six weeks was seen as a sensible wait for a dentist appointment and three weeks for an appointment with a GP.
The research, commissioned by Wellsoon from Practice Plus Group, also revealed trying to get through to customer service on the phone is the most frustrating thing, closely followed by waiting to see a doctor, and getting stuck in traffic.
Jim Easton, the brand’s chief executive, said: “Life is seemingly full of frustrating waits.
Read more on Brits’ opinions
“Of course, you can be more accepting of some over others in life, such as a wait for a cold pint or to get through airport security.
“But for health matters, clearly, people would like to wait less than they do currently for GP or surgery appointments.”
The research also revealed the ways people look to cut down the time they wait for things, with 30 per cent paying extra for fast delivery when online shopping.
And 39 per cent binge-watch TV shows rather than waiting for the next episode.
Anyone planning to avoid bank holiday traffic this weekend won’t be alone, with half setting off early on long journeys to avoid having to queue on the roads, according to the OnePoll.com data.
While 42 per cent have admitted to skipping the queue in the past, nine per cent are frequent offenders.
Find out how patient you are by taking this quiz.
But many still think waiting is a British pastime, with 57 per cent believing we’re more patient than other nations.
However, 36 per cent think it’s OK to skip the queue for pressing medical issues and 35 per cent for safety reasons.
A quarter (24 per cent) also admitted to not being particularly patient, while only one in six considered themselves very patient.
However, 32 per cent have lost their cool when having to wait for something, with two thirds of those doing so over something insignificant.
But 31 per cent are regularly left genuinely frustrated over things such as waits for surgery or to see a medical professional.
And 62 per cent do not think current wait times to see a doctor are acceptable, with 67 per cent of the same opinion when it comes to surgery appointments.
Jim Easton, from Practice Plus Group, added: “The research has also shown more people are considering the idea of private healthcare, which would also benefit the NHS by shortening waiting lists.
“Findings from this study have shown that the little things in life can annoy people when they’re having to wait, but there’s a real frustration when it comes to things that are so much more serious.
“Your health above all else is something you shouldn’t have to wait for, particularly if you’re in pain or concerned.”
I found a shorter NHS wait time for my hip op
Janet Lovell, 73, from the Isle of Wight, expected to wait for around a year for an NHS hip replacement after experiencing excruciating pain caused by osteoarthritis.
But then, due to Covid backlogs, the waiting list just got longer and longer.
When her husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s she needed to be fit and well to care for him but was in so much pain she needed a wheelchair to go anywhere.
Janet said: “I’m a very practical person and just get on with it, but looking after my husband was much harder being in pain and sleep deprived.”
She chose to go private with Wellsoon from Practice Plus Group, Southampton, having the op in April of last year.
Janet added: “I was able to have my surgery quickly, within a matter of weeks, and the operation made such a difference to both our lives and caring for Martin became much easier – however I still had pain from the other hip which also needed replacing.
“I had realised by then that Practice Plus Group also treats NHS patients, so I asked my GP to refer me there, where the wait would be shorter than my local NHS hospital, and had my other hip done last October.
“I really don’t think enough people realise that they have a legal right to choose where to have their NHS treatment and that they can find shorter waits.
“Now, I can sleep well and get around, keep myself fit and healthy and look after my husband.”
