Patient appointment data

October 2024

Did you know that during the month of October the practice had 648 appointments, whereby patients failed to attend (DNA), or cancel their appointment in time 80 of which, were for GPs.

This equates to 120 hours of clinical time, that we could have offered to other patients. 18 of which were for those requiring urgent on the day appointments.

September 2024

Did you know that during the month of September the practice had 427 appointments, whereby patients failed to attend (DNA), or cancel their appointment in time, 53 of which were for GPs.

This equates to 100 hours of clinical time, that we could have offered to other patients.

14 of which were for those requiring urgent on the day appointments.

August 2024

Did you know that during the month of August the practice had 351 appointments, whereby patients failed to attend (DNA), or cancel their appointment in time, 75 of which were for GPs.

This equates to 88 hours of clinical time that we could have offered to other patients.

16 of which were for those requiring urgent on the day appointments.

July 2024

The practice had 410 appointments, whereby patients failed to attend (DNA), or cancel their appointment in time 64 of which, were for GPs.

This equates to 107 hours of clinical time, that we could have offered to other patients. 11 of which were for those requiring urgent on the day appointments.

May 2024

Total DNAs (Did Not Attends) 377, 8 of which were for urgent on the day appointments.

This equates to 9 hours of clinical time lost.

49 GP appointments were not attended.

April 2024

Total DNAs (Did Not Attends) 396, 71 of which were for urgent on the day appointments.

This equates to 104 hours of clinical time lost.

40 GP appointments were not attended.

March 2024

Total DNAs 367, 12 of which were for urgent on the day appointments.

This equates to 100 hours of clinical time lost.

53 GP appointments were not attended.

February 2024

Total DNAs 423, 16 of which were for urgent on the day appointments.

This equates to 120 hours of clinical time lost.

44 GP appointments were not attended.

January 2024

Total DNAs 454, 39 of which were for urgent on the day appointments.

This equates to 130hrs of clinical time lost.

44 GP appointments were not attended.

DNA (did not attend) data year to date

Period January to March 2023

Clinician	Number of appointments	Time lost
GP + nurse practitioner	362	84 hours
Practice nurse + healthcare assistant	897	226 hours
Total	1259	310 hours

40 on the day appointments with a GP or nurse practitioner were not attended.

Period April to June 2023

Clinician	Number of appointments	Time lost
GP + nurse practitioner	280	72 hours
Practice nurse + healthcare assistant	592	146 hours
Total	872	218 hours

117 on the day appointments with a GP or nurse practitioner were not attended.

Can’t get an appointment?

As I am sure you can appreciate, there is a large demand on appointments at the practice and we continue to have a high level of appointments whereby patients fail to attend or cancel their appointment, which could have been used for another patient. This is not only frustrating for our staff when appointments are not cancelled, as we know the demand for our services, but also for our patients who are having to wait longer for an appointment, when an appointment no longer needed, could have been freed up for another patient to use.

The practice has a policy on patients not attending appointments which in extreme cases can result in the patient being removed from our practice list. Please help us to best utilise our appointments by cancelling any future appointments immediately upon realising you do not need it or if you cannot attend the booked time.

Cancelling or changing an appointment

To cancel your appointment:

• use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App)
• use the GP online system: SystmOnline
• choosing the amend / cancel appointment custom button on askmyGP
• phone us on Cardinal Medical Practice (Deben Road) 01473 741 349 or Norwich Road (Branch site) or Chesterfield Drive (Branch site) during opening times choosing option 3 where you can leave a message

If you have been given an emergency on the day appointment because you are acutely unwell, but are not able to attend the appointment, please do make contact with the practice, so we can free up this much needed appointment for another patient.

Life is busy for everyone and we recognise that sometimes appointments are forgotten, despite text reminders being sent the day before your appointment, so please do help us to help you, please attend your appointment as planned, or if no longer needed, please do cancel allowing us to offer this appointment to another patient. If however, you are not receiving text reminders, please make contact with the practice so we can ensure we have your most up to date number on your record.

A big thank you for all those who do attend their appointments as planned.