Posts Tagged ‘missed appointments’

Published on Jan 17, 2019

NHS Scarborough and Ryedale Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is asking patients to do their bit for the local health service this winter by cancelling GP appointments if they are no longer needed.

Nationally, more than 15 million general practice appointments are being wasted each year because patients do not turn up and fail to warn surgeries they do not need the appointment.

That’s around one in 20 of all appointments with doctors, nurses, therapists and other practice staff that could be made available to other patients.

The cost of the wasted appointments is the equivalent of:

the annual salary of 2,325 full time GPs

224,640 cataract operations

58,320 hip replacement operations

216,000 drug treatment courses for Alzheimer’s

the annual salary of 8,424 full time community nurses

NHS Scarborough and Ryedale CCG Clinical Chair and family GP, Dr Phil Garnett, said: “At any time of the year but especially in winter when demand on local health services increases, it’s very important that appointment slots are not going to waste.

“Our message is clear: if you cannot make it to your appointment or no longer need a consultation, please let your GP practice know in advance so the appointment can be used by another patient.”

There are 12 GP practices in Scarborough and the part of Ryedale overseen by NHS Scarborough and Ryedale CCG, collectively looking after almost 120,000 patients.