'Millions lost' to missed NHS appointments

[annie]

'Millions lost' to missed NHS appointments

The NHS says it has lost millions of pounds in the last year because of the number of patients failing to turn up for appointments.

It is estimated that more than 12 million doctors' appointments are missed and just under seven million outpatient hospital appointments are missed each year.

Tim Muffett reports.

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-26414373

[wendy]

this is bad manners and ignorant.

[JaneJ]

With the amount of letters and the texts you get it must be pretty difficult to just forget!

Good manners would dictate you gave notice of not showing up.

If you haven't a valid excuse maybe they should be fined and that would cover the cost. They do it at dentists.

x

[Misspears]

At our doctors its put on a screen how many missed appointment for the month and how much money it costs in not turning up for appointments

Ann x

[debzsanderson]

Mark was sent an outpatients appointment following his hospital stay. There was no way he could attend. He is virtually bed bound and they wanted him there for a 9 am appointment in a hospital 15 miles from home. Paramedics wouldn't be able to lift him like they did in the emergency admission and he can't be transported in a wheelchair as he can't safely sit for longer than 10 minutes unsupported. I tried to cancel by ringing the appointment line but no one had heard of the dr and after three different phone calls and two hospitals I gave up. I just told reception they would realise he's not there when his name was called. I hate doing this but had no. House!,

[maureenho]

Debz that was bad practice on the hospitals part, they should have been able to take Mark the same way by doing transfer on slide board, I had no problems with that from our local hospital.

[Rosalind]

The hospitals I attend often phone me a few days before my appointment and remind me. What does annoy me is I have a yearly appointment and after I attend they send me the next appointment 11 months before I am due to attend. I think that is a bit early, as you do not have next year's calendar to put it on.  an??