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Wasted appointments

300-350 wow!!! That is what we are hoghlighting to our patients via the Patient Psticipation Group at our practice... The patients moanabout not being able to get appts ... Yet 130 + missed each month... 300-350 is staggering!! And awful for patients that really need to see a gp or nurse practioner


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I must admit I've forgotten a few aptns in my time... but not for want of trying. I've written the times down, even put it on the calendar on the wall... and put notes on the fridge and still forgotten. I often get my days mixed up and this would happen with other aptns too, not just Doctor's. I once got an SMS telling me that I'd missed a Doc's aptn for the day before... and I thought, if I'd gotten that reminder before the aptn time instead of after it... I wouldn't have forgotten it. A lot of surgeries do now send our reminders BEFOREHAND.
 
Luckily I've never missed an appointment. I write it on my wall calendar and put it in my phone diary so I can see the appointment the day before. My dentist and chiropractor send text reminders but GP surgery not offering this service although the pharmacy will inform you if you have a prescription order ready to collect. A couple of hospital departments ring with an automated message 10 DAYS before your appointment which is way too early - 3 days would make more sense. Diabetic clinic does none of the above but sometimes sends out a reminder letter for annual review as these appointments are booked a year in advance.


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donnellysdogs said:
The Patients Participation Group at my GP practice have all wanted the Patients to be charged for non cancelled appts and wasted time. At 133 appointments a month on average ..and each appt being charged a supposed £10 for non cancelling... That would pay for a type 1 diabetic parient to have a pump every 3 months ... And thats just our practice!!!
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How would such a system handle cases where patients were never informed of appointments, given the wrong time or cancellations were not passed on correctly.

If dentists can charge for DNA's why cant GP's and hospitals?
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Should patients be able to charge GP's and hospitals if the reason is down to their admin?
How about TNT Post/Royal Mail...
 
When it comes to communications my GP is "snail mail "only! Despite accepting my regular repeat prescriptions by e-mail, the staff cannot manage to use this "tool of the devil" to make contact with me.
As for my hospital appts, I make the appts "face to face" at the previous appt as they are a total "ball-ache to schedule things any other way. (still manage to mail me at 1 month to go that no-one is available and move my appointment- this is a regular occurrence and not due to sick leave!)
 
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