§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of patients attended appointments with hospital consultants in the last 12 months. [142531]
§ Mr. DenhamStatistics for the number of missed appointments or 'did not attend' (DNA) rates are collected quarterly for first outpatient appointments only. Statistics collected for the last two quarters of the year 1999–2000 and the first two quarters of 2000–01 show an average DNA rate of 11.37 per cent.1
Booked appointments allow patients to pre-book hospital appointments and admission dates that are convenient to them, providing scope to reduce DNA rates. The National Health Service Plan target is that by the end of 2005 all patients will be able to plan their appointments and elective admission dates.
1 Source: QM08 Outpatient Quarterly Return—Trust Based