Over 74 per cent of UK adults we surveyed say they felt a medical professional has dismissed their symptoms. JMW's nationwide study reveals how this can affect diagnosis, trust and long-term health outcomes.

When a person feels something is wrong with their health, being listened to by a doctor, nurse, consultant or other medical professional matters. A new survey from JMW suggests that many people across the UK feel their symptoms have not fully been listened to when seeking medical care.

Our research, conducted with 718 UK adults in March and April 2026, found that three-quarters of respondents have experienced medical gaslighting at least once. This includes situations where patients say their symptoms were downplayed, attributed to stress or anxiety without further investigation, or not taken seriously despite ongoing health concerns. Our research also reveals a clear gender gap, with women far more likely than men to experience their symptoms being dismissed.

It is also undeniable that most medical professionals are motivated to assist and support patients and do so. Clear communication and patients advocating for themselves will help further ensure concerns are discussed and addressed.

Learn more about medical gaslighting trends in the UK by exploring the full findings of our survey below. If you are concerned that a delayed diagnosis led to ongoing health conditions or lasting damage, please get in touch with our delayed diagnosis claims team.

Executive Summary: What Is Medical Gaslighting, and How Common Is It?

Medical gaslighting is a term used to describe the experience of having symptoms dismissed, minimised or wrongly attributed by a doctor, nurse, consultant or other medical professional. While the phrase itself is not a formal medical or legal term, it reflects a concern of feeling unheard when seeking help for symptoms that affect health, wellbeing and daily life.

JMW carried out this research to understand how often people in the UK feel their health concerns have been dismissed, which groups are most affected, and what happens when symptoms are not taken seriously. The survey was conducted in March and April 2026, and gathered responses from 718 UK adults, exploring how often people felt dismissed by a health professional, the types of symptoms and conditions involved, the phrases they were told, and the physical and psychological impact that followed.

Clearly, these results are based on the respondents’ feelings rather than facts, but the subsequent findings show a clear link between feeling dismissed and delayed diagnosis, with many respondents experiencing serious consequences as a result. Key findings from the survey include:

When a patient’s symptoms are not properly investigated, it can sometimes delay diagnosis and treatment, potentially for months or even years. For some people, this may lead to avoidable harm, a poorer prognosis, loss of trust in doctors and hospitals, and lasting psychological injury.

These findings matter because delayed diagnosis can affect every part of a person’s life. It may change the treatment they need, the pain they live with, their ability to work, their confidence in seeking further medical care and the support they require from family members. Where a delayed diagnosis causes avoidable harm, patients may have grounds to explore a medical negligence claim.

This report sets out the survey findings in detail, including who is most affected, which symptoms are most likely to be dismissed, and what patients can do if they feel their concerns are not being taken seriously.

Data Breakdown: How Are People in the UK Experiencing Medical Gaslighting?

What are the gender gaps in patient experience?

The survey shows a clear difference between the experiences reported by women and men. Women were much more likely to say their symptoms had been dismissed, and they were also more likely to report delays before receiving a diagnosis:

These findings suggest that medical gaslighting is not experienced evenly across all patient groups, and supports wider concerns that women’s pain and symptoms can be minimised, particularly where symptoms relate to chronic pain, gynaecological health, reproductive health or conditions that do not show clearly on initial test results.

Which conditions are most likely to be dismissed?

The survey suggests that certain types of symptoms are more likely to be dismissed than others. This is particularly clear for symptoms that are difficult to measure quickly, fluctuate over time, or rely heavily on a patient describing what they feel day to day:

Pain, fatigue, mental health symptoms and neurological changes can all have a serious impact on a person’s life, even where the cause is not immediately clear from initial tests. These findings show why it is important for doctors, nurses and consultants to take time to listen carefully to a patient’s symptoms, especially where the person has repeatedly asked for help or their condition is affecting everyday life. A ‘normal’ test result does not always indicate that nothing is wrong, and patients should receive a clear explanation of what has been ruled out, what may still need investigation, and what to do if symptoms continue or get worse.

What are the outcomes of delayed diagnosis?

The survey shows that many people who felt dismissed were not diagnosed until much later. For some, this meant waiting months or years for answers, while others were still waiting for further investigation at the time of the survey:

These findings show how feeling dismissed can form part of a longer and in some cases more distressing route to diagnosis. For people with symptoms that change over time, overlap with other conditions or do not show clearly in early tests, repeated reassurance without a clear plan can leave them unsure where to turn next.

This is especially important where symptoms continue, worsen or begin to affect work, family life, sleep, mobility or mental wellbeing. In these situations, patients need clear communication about what has been checked, what has not yet been ruled out, and when further tests or referrals may be needed.

What are the psychological and physical health impacts of being dismissed?

The survey found that being dismissed can affect more than the time it takes to receive a diagnosis. Many respondents said the experience had a lasting psychological impact, while others reported physical consequences linked to delayed care or ongoing symptoms:

These findings show how dismissal can affect a person’s confidence, wellbeing and day-to-day life, as well as how closely physical and psychological effects can overlap. When a person continues to live with unexplained symptoms, repeated appointments and no clear plan, the uncertainty itself can become part of the harm they experience.

What are patients being told?

The survey also asked respondents about the words and phrases they heard when they felt their symptoms were being dismissed. The most common responses suggest that many people were reassured, redirected or told to wait, even when their symptoms continued:

These phrases matter because they can change how confident a person feels about returning for help. Someone who has already been told that their symptoms are normal, stress-related or part of getting older may delay booking another appointment, even if those symptoms continue or worsen.

What Should I Do to Make Sure My Symptoms Are Not Dismissed?

If you feel your symptoms are being dismissed, it can help to take clear, practical steps before and after appointments. This can support conversations with your GP, consultant or another health professional, and may also help if you later need to seek advice about delayed diagnosis claims.

Prepare for GP or consultant appointments

Before an appointment, write down the main points you want to cover. This may include:

If you are told your test results are normal, you can ask what the tests have ruled out, what they cannot show, and whether further tests or a referral may be needed if symptoms continue.

Document symptoms and timelines

Keeping a symptom diary can help you explain your symptoms clearly and consistently. Try to record dates, changes in severity, medication, appointments, test results and any impact on daily life.

You may also wish to keep copies of your medical records, hospital letters, referral notes and appointment summaries. NHS guidance explains how patients can request access to their medical records from the GP surgery, hospital or healthcare provider that holds them.

Ask about a second opinion

If you are feeling dismissed or remain concerned that you have not been correctly diagnosed, you can ask about a second opinion. This may involve another GP, a different consultant or a referral to a specialist service.

A second opinion may confirm the original advice, or it may identify another possible diagnosis, treatment option or investigation route. Either way, it can help you make a more informed decision about your health.

Escalate concerns where necessary

If your symptoms continue, worsen or start to affect your daily life more seriously, ask what the next step should be. You can also ask for your concerns to be recorded in your notes.

Where you feel your concerns have not been addressed, you have the right to raise a concern or complaint with the relevant GP surgery, hospital or NHS service. Organisations such as the Patients Association can also provide support with preparing for appointments, understanding your options and making sure your concerns are heard - take a look at their guide to getting the most out of your appointment.

Can I Claim for Delayed Diagnosis?

A delayed diagnosis does not automatically mean medical negligence has occurred. Some conditions are difficult to diagnose because symptoms overlap with other illnesses, develop gradually or do not show clearly on initial tests. However, delayed diagnosis claims may arise where a doctor, nurse, consultant or another medical professional failed to provide appropriate care, and this caused avoidable harm.

In medical negligence law, this usually means looking at whether there was:

• A breach in the duty of care owed to you, meaning the care fell below the minimum standard expected from a reasonably competent doctor, nurse, consultant or other healthcare professional.
• Harm caused by that breach, meaning the delay affected your outcome, treatment, recovery, pain levels, quality of life or long-term health.

A delayed diagnosis compensation claim may involve:

• missed symptoms, where important warning signs were not properly assessed
• a failure to arrange tests, scans or further investigations when they were needed
• a failure to act on test results, including abnormal findings or changes over time
• a delay in referral, where a patient should have been sent to a specialist sooner
• incorrect reassurance, where symptoms were repeatedly dismissed without a clear plan for review
• a missed or incorrect diagnosis, where the patient was not correctly diagnosed until later

The impact of the delay is an important part of any medical negligence compensation claim. For example, a delayed diagnosis may lead to more invasive treatment, a poorer prognosis, prolonged pain, a longer recovery, psychological injury, time away from work or a reduced quality of life. The success of a clinical negligence compensation claim, and how much compensation will be available, will depend on individual circumstances and the evidence available, including medical records, appointment notes, test results, referral letters and, where needed, an independent medical report.

There is usually a time limit of three years for medical negligence claims. This is often called the three-year rule. The time limit usually runs from the date of the alleged negligence, or from the date you became aware that negligence may have caused your injury. Different rules can apply for children and people who lack mental capacity, so it is important to seek legal advice based on your circumstances - you can find out more about this time limit here.

JMW provides expert legal advice on misdiagnosis claims, delayed diagnosis claims and medical negligence claims involving avoidable harm. Our medical negligence team includes members of the Law Society’s specialist panel of clinical negligence solicitors and the Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) solicitors panel, and we can answer any questions you may have about a potential delayed diagnosis compensation claim.

Data Sources and Methodology

This report is based on a survey of 718 UK adults, carried out by JMW in March and April 2026. The findings are based on respondents’ reported experiences. They should be understood as a snapshot of patient experience in the UK, rather than a clinical assessment of individual cases.

Full details of the methodology and data sources are available upon request - please contact cleo.chaisty@i-com.net.

Last updated: May 2026