HC Deb 09 May 2002 vol 385 cc351-2W
Dr. Evan Harris

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of(a) in-patient and (b) outpatient appointments were missed in each of the last six years.[53369]

Mr. Hutton

The number of patients who did not attend consultant out-patient appointments from 1995–96 to 2000–01 are shown in the table. Information up to quarter 2 of 2001–02 is available on the Department's website www.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity.

Total out-patient appointments Total attendances Total DNAs Percentage DNAs
1995–96 45,578,990 40,117,691 5,461,299 12.0
1996–97 46,380,294 40,872,769 5,507,525 11.9
1997–98 47,264,698 41,635,269 5,629,429 11.9
1998–99 47,803,368 42,154,397 5,648,971 11.8
1999–2000 48,923,209 43,040,699 5,882,510 12.0
2000–01 49,524,159 43,569,340 5,954,819 12.0

Note:

Did Not Attends (DNAs) are counted for those patients who gave no advance warning for their non attendance.

Source:

Department of Health form KH09

As part of the NHS plan all out-patient appointments will be pre-booked by the end of 2005. Patients will be able to choose a date and time for their appointment that is convenient for them. Booking systems, where introduced, have proven to significantly reduce numbers of patients failing to turn up for appointments.

The number of patients who did not attend consultant in-patient appointments from 1995–96 to 2000–01 is shown in the table.

Patients admitted Patients failed to attend Failed to attend rate (percentage)
1995–96 3,500,353 207,515 5.60
1996–97 3,549,073 223,255 5.82
1998–99 3,826,507 171,382 4.30
1999–2000 3,682,180 146,599 3.83
2000–01 3,467,338 125,860 3.50

Note:

Data for 1997–98 is not available

Source:

Department for Health form KHO6

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