§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital outpatient appointments were missed by patients in each year since 1997; and how much this has cost the NHS. [47541]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 10 April 2002]: The number of patients who did not attend consultant outpatient appointments from 1997–98 to 2000–01 are shown in the table. Information up to quarter 2 of 2001–02, is available on the Department's web site www.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity.
Year Total No of Outpatient Appointments Total No of Outpatient Attendences Total No of DNAs per cent DNA 2000–01 49,524,159 43.569,340 5,954,819 12.0 1999–00 48,923,209 43,040,699 5,882,510 12.0 1998–99 47,794,368 42,145,397 5,648,971 11.8 1997–98 47,264,698 41,635,269 5,629,429 11.9 Note:
Did Not Attends (DNAs) are counted for those patients who gave no advance warning for their non-attendance.
Source:
Department of Health form KHO9
519WWe do not centrally collect data on the cost to the NHS of patients who do not attend hospital outpatient appointments.
As part of the NHS Plan all outpatient appointments will be pre-booked by the end of 2005. Patient will be able to choose a date and time that is convenient for them, well in advance. Booking systems, where introduced, have proved to significantly reduce numbers of patients failing to turn up for appointments.