FAILURE TO ATTEND APPOINTMENT (Did Not Attend or known as DNAs)
A DNA is someone who “Did Not Attend” an appointment at the surgery and did not tell us beforehand.
- The practice recognises that patients with busy lives can sometimes miss appointments. Most patients apologise, rebook, and attend future appointments without issue. However, some patients struggle to attend consistently, which can affect other patients and the availability of services. We have introduced a policy to support patients to attend their appointments and help overcome the barriers that may prevent attendance. Our goals are to:
- Support patients to attend their scheduled appointments
- Understand and address the common reasons why appointments are missed
- Provide guidance and solutions for patients who frequently struggle to attend
- Reduce wasted appointments, making more slots available for all patients
- Encourage patients to cancel in advance if they genuinely cannot attend
How to cancel a GP appointment
- Call the surgery – Call the surgery at least 30 minutes before your appointment time
- Use the NHS App- If you’re signed up for the NHS App, you can cancel your appointment online
What happens if you don’t cancel your appointment?
- If you don’t cancel your appointment or don’t give enough notice, it will be recorded as a “Did Not Attend” (DNA) on your record
- If you fail to attend multiple appointments in a row, you may receive a letter from the surgery
- Your GP surgery may decide to stop offering you appointments
Why should you cancel your appointment?
- Canceling your appointment allows the appointment to go to someone else
- It helps avoid wasting resources
- It can help reduce wait times
If you missed an appointment (DNA) and would like to turn this into a Can Attend Now (CAN), please contact reception to arrange a care coordinator referral.
