Missing patients 'ban' call by GPs |
| Written by yorkguides.co.uk | |
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Anger over appointments Mike Waites (Yorkshire Post)
It found two-thirds of doctors nationally would back charging patients who missed appointments, while 71 per cent would consider removing them from their lists.Health correspondent PATIENTS who repeatedly miss appointments should be struck off family doctor lists, a majority of GPs say in a survey today. The damning research claims as many as 15 million appointments at doctors' surgeries are missed each year. The poll of nearly 700 GP practices across the country, was carried out by health education charity Developing Patient Partnerships (DPP) and the Institute of Healthcare Management. It estimates that a massive £180m a year is wasted by 10 million missed GP appointments and five million missed with practice nurses. Doctors say the problem needlessly increases waiting times to see doctors and also affects Government targets. Most people blame their failure to attend on forgetfulness. In Yorkshire an estimated 950,000 appointments with GPs and about 530,000 with nurses are missed each year, according to the survey. Nine in 10 GPs in Yorkshire who responded said missed appointments were a problem for their practice, and 82 per cent in the region said it increased waiting times for other people. Some 80 per cent of doctors in the region said they would consider striking off patients who repeatedly missed appointments, and with two in five believed the problem had worsened in the last two years – despite huge publicity urging people to get in contact if they cannot attend. Fewer doctors in Yorkshire than nationally backed charging patients who missed appointments but two in five suggested fines of up to £10 and one in five wanted to charge fees of more than £10. DPP spokesman Terry John urged patients to remember to keep or cancel appointments. "These results are disappointing especially if we consider that each GP appointment costs £18," he said. Jayne Tabor, of the Institute of Healthcare Management, added: "Missed appointments impact on all of us. Almost everyone is likely to have difficulties booking an appointment to see their GP at some point. These difficulties are exacerbated by missed appointments. Cancelling unwanted appointments frees them up for other patients who need them." Doctors and hospitals are harnessing new technology to reduce numbers of missed appointments. A number of surgeries now send out reminders via text messages of upcoming appointments. These can be programmed to be sent the day before or even hours before. At Leeds General Infirmary the number of patients failing to attend sexual health clinics has been slashed by a third after a service was set up to text people four days in advance of appointments. A pre-programmed smartcard which could be handed out to patients is also being developed by a York-based firm. This sends out a bleep to remind people they are due to see their doctor. A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "Missed appointments matter. They waste GPs' time and NHS, and so taxpayers', resources. "Patients are right to expect a modernised responsive and accessible service. "But for their part, patients have a responsibility to keep or cancel appointments." |
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