Most of our Patients know it can sometimes be difficult to get a routine appointment with a GP or Nurse. In the course of events where demand is unpredictable, that cannot easily be remedied.
One thing that makes this more difficult to overcome is the problem of missed routine appointments – DNAs.
Where Patients have been declined routine appointments because the consultations are fully booked, it is at best disappointing when one of those booked appointments does not turn up and has not contacted the Practice to cancel the appointment so that it can be released for others or telephones so late as to make it impossible to allocate to another Patient.
On average each month we have around 200 such DNAs - with either GPs or Nurses and, in some cases, double appointments at specialist clinics. This is the equivalent of 33 hours of missed clinical appointments.
Due to the number of patients failing to attend for their appointment this may mean that you may not be able to see the doctor on the day that you wish to.
In an attempt to try and resolve this, the practice has developed the following policy.
- If you fail to attend appointments without informing us we will write to you asking if you could inform the practice if you are unable to attend your appointment.
- If you fail to attend on 3 occasions throughout a 12 month period for appointments you may be removed from the practice list and have to find an alternative GP practice.
Remember that your DNA is another Patient’s denied appointment
HOW TO AVOID BECOMING A DNA
If you cannot attend or no longer need an appointment, please ring us in advance.
Mistakes do happen and the Practice understands that appointments can be forgotten about or overlooked. In such cases, the Practice will take into account the reason given by Patients.
Preference, of course, is for the Practice to know in advance so we can offer the appointment(s) to other Patients in need.
Should you need to cancel: here’s how
- By telephone: Call 01928 711911
- By text, text cancel to 0780 0000199