Patients forget to see their GP (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Patients forget to see their GP

MORE than 10 million GP appointments are missed every year by patients who forget to turn up and a Swindon doctor says it can waste hours of valuable surgery time.

The research, carried out by Developing Patient Partnership and the Institute of Healthcare management, found that patients were also missing about five million meetings with practice nurses too.

The survey of 683 GP surgeries in the country found that most believed missed appointments increased waiting times and were a waste of NHS money and resources.

And 71 per cent said they would consider the drastic action of removing patients from their list if they repeatedly missed appointments.

More than two thirds of the surgeries involved supported the idea of charging for missed appointments.

Dr Peter Crouch, of Taw Hill surgery, said: "It is a complete waste of time.

"We had the odd surgery where two, three, even four patients in a row didn't turn up, and that wastes an hour of valuable surgery time when you could be looking at results, or returning calls.

"It is a courtesy thing, but of course doctors understand that some people do just forget, and they are often very apologetic."

In June the surgery introduced a new system for booking appointments.

"We see far less of missed appointments since we introduced our new booking system," said Dr Crouch.

Patients have a phone consultation first, before an appointment is made to come into the surgery to see either a doctor or nurse.

"Sometimes people need blood tests before a diagnosis can be made.

"It is then pointless for them to come into the surgery when we would be unable to make a diagnosis until tests had been completed."

But he added that Taw Hill surgery would never consider removing a patient simply for missed appointments.

"It would have to be something else too, like constant rudeness and abusive behaviour."

Dr Crouch is also against the idea of charging patients for missed appointments.

He said: "The thing I am most proud about with the NHS, despite its potential for abuse, is the fact it is free at the point of delivery.

"It offends me that people would consider charging and patients could be put off especially the elderly and those less fortunate."

The survey found the most practical solution was better communication and more awareness campaigns.

The DPP is running a Keep It or Cancel It campaign which offers surgeries resources for raising the awareness of the effect missed appointments have.

Stephanie Tye