§ Mr. SimmondsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital appointments were not attended in England in each of the last four years; and what measures are in place to reduce this number. [40462]
§ Mr. HuttonThe number of patients who did not attend consultant out-patient appointments from 1997–98 to 2000–01 are given in the table. Information up to quarter 2 of 2001–02, is available on the Department website at www.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity.
Total number of did not attends (DNAs) at all consultant out-patient clinics, England, 1997–98 to 2000–01 Year Total number 2000–01 5,954,819 1999–2000 5,882,510 1998–99 5,648,971 1997–98 5,629,429 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
The Department has introduced the national booked admissions programme to offer patients a pre-booked appointment and a choice of date and time that is suitable to them. Booking systems have proven to significantly reduce the number of patients who do not attend appointments.
As stated in the NHS plan, by the end of 2005 all out-patient appointments will be pre-booked, allowing patients to book convenient appointment times. Since March 2001 every acute NHS trust has been offering 532W booked appointments in at least two specialties or high volume procedures. £50 million was allocated to the national booked admissions programme in 2001–02.