Missed Appointments (DNA's)

Unfortunately for several reasons, each month there are numerous patients who do not attend their scheduled GP or Nurse appointment. This wastes a large amount of GP & Nurse time, but also prevents other patients from booking those appointments.

The practice displays how many appointments have been missed on a monthly basis, this will also show how much time clinical time has been wasted as well as the amount of surgeries.

We ask all patients:

• To inform us if you cannot make the appointment.

• To contact the surgery if you are late rather than not attending.

• To keep appointments as much as possible.

• To inform the surgery of any issues, problems or complaints to enable them to be dealt with quickly.

Missed Appointments Protocol (DNA's)

Patients who do not attend their appointments are classed as a DNA (Did Not Attend). The clinical system automatically marks in the patient record that they have failed to attend an appointment.

First Occasion: A letter will be sent to the patient by the DNA coordinator.

Second Occasion: A second letter will be sent to the patient to explain the DNA policy and to inform the patient they will be removed from the practice list if they DNA again.

Third Occasion: The Assistant Practice Manager will send a final letter to the patient explaining that they have breached the practice DNA policy and will be removed from the practice list.