Page 6 | Missed appointments at the GP

Tamega · 2025-02-13T17:14:08+00:00

Our gp practice started to warn patients who have missed more than 3 appointments in a year. If they miss another they will be removed and a note added into their medical records. What do you think about this?

BLUEcups · 14/02/2025 17:33

jannier · 14/02/2025 15:58

And what does he do when he hasn't been able to speak on a phone for several years as he clams up ....assuming he's remembered to check if he has anything he needs to do today? He's ND with mental health issues as is common. He's also grieving
What does the other one I care for remotely do when he can't tell you the day, time or if he can take more pain meds because he can't remember to set a reminder of when he can take them...if he's remembered to charge his phone. What should my sister have done if it were a day where she couldn't have even rolled over in bed and was waiting for her ND son to remember to check on her?
Your life seems simple some of us have multiple worries.

Show quote history

You’re talking like I know your situation. I don’t. I read the OP and replied accordingly, so I’ve no idea what you’re going on about or your personal situation
and I’ve not got time to read all replies.

I have a child with ND so I know the struggles believe me.

You seem to have an answer for most replies like you’re trying to convince us we’re all ‘wrong’, but we’re allowed our own thoughts on this.

jannier · 14/02/2025 18:38

BLUEcups · 14/02/2025 17:33

You’re talking like I know your situation. I don’t. I read the OP and replied accordingly, so I’ve no idea what you’re going on about or your personal situation
and I’ve not got time to read all replies.

I have a child with ND so I know the struggles believe me.

You seem to have an answer for most replies like you’re trying to convince us we’re all ‘wrong’, but we’re allowed our own thoughts on this.

Edited

Show quote history

And as I've said there is a case for flexibility not a one size fits all but you keep coming back with there is always someone who can do it for you....when your child becomes an adult as in over 25 is forced to live independently (in my nephew's case the death of his carer on his 30th birthday) life isn't so simple there is no live in adult he's forced to live alone and as with many ASD has MH issues since puberty that have caused various issues ...very common with ASD.
I repeat I'm not saying no fine but flexibility as per the equality legislation.

jannier · 14/02/2025 18:44

SheilaFentiman · 14/02/2025 07:25

Morning long or afternoon long slots in which the doctor will call you are largely unmanageable. Your boss calls, you need a wee, you are in a meeting etc

If you have accepted an appointment at 1410 and then are not free for the call, that’s different

Show quote history

I think accepting a 14.10 appointment being near a phone between 14.00 and 14.30 is reasonable but I've had them call as soon as they have a gap like 2 hours early and as much as 3 hours later. No good when you are a carer to 3 separate households and have already explained you need to be with their patient to take the call so won't be there until an hour before the appointment.

jannier · 14/02/2025 18:53

BLUEcups · 14/02/2025 17:33

You’re talking like I know your situation. I don’t. I read the OP and replied accordingly, so I’ve no idea what you’re going on about or your personal situation
and I’ve not got time to read all replies.

I have a child with ND so I know the struggles believe me.

You seem to have an answer for most replies like you’re trying to convince us we’re all ‘wrong’, but we’re allowed our own thoughts on this.

Edited

Show quote history

Maybe I'm unlucky enough to be a carer for 3 separate siblings all living in different homes with different conditions as well as having had a disabled mother. I can't help the fact I've had experience so can give a view on a various range of physical and other disabilities life was easy when it was just one child we were fighting for and with. I've frankly had enough of people assuming life is so simple and there's help out there 60 years as a carer and ignorance is still a daily thing or the constant relabelling from Asperger's,Autistic, ND the shit is still the same and the services are still as shit when your getting hit by a grown man who's not even your son. And yes it's been a bad bloody day. So I'm probably more F....off than normal.

BLUEcups · 14/02/2025 19:43

jannier · 14/02/2025 18:53

Maybe I'm unlucky enough to be a carer for 3 separate siblings all living in different homes with different conditions as well as having had a disabled mother. I can't help the fact I've had experience so can give a view on a various range of physical and other disabilities life was easy when it was just one child we were fighting for and with. I've frankly had enough of people assuming life is so simple and there's help out there 60 years as a carer and ignorance is still a daily thing or the constant relabelling from Asperger's,Autistic, ND the shit is still the same and the services are still as shit when your getting hit by a grown man who's not even your son. And yes it's been a bad bloody day. So I'm probably more F....off than normal.

Show quote history

I’m sorry you’re having such a difficult time. It sounds really tough. You have a lot to deal with and that’s not fair. There absolutely should be more support for adults with ASD especially in the cases you describe. Social care is diabolical and needs a complete overhaul to help vulnerable people and put the right support in place for them. It’s a scandal

newyearnewme2025 · 14/02/2025 19:45

i can understand missing 1 appointment.. things happen in life! but to miss 2 or even 3? it makes you wonder if these appointments were even needed in the first place? so yes, i agree!

dentists have been doing this for years, so why not your GP. it might even reduce the heavy workload and make more appointments available for those who actually need it.

Rainingalldayonmyhead · 14/02/2025 20:49

PrincessofWells · 13/02/2025 17:25

I can think of a few disabilities that would make this discriminatory.

Most GPS use no shows to do paperwork so it's not as if they are there twiddling their thumbs.

Sure but there are always exceptions to every rule and perfectly good reasons such as being in hospital.

The surgeries will be busy BUT it blocks others from getting appointments and thats the point.

NattyTurtle59 · 14/02/2025 20:52

SheilaFentiman · 14/02/2025 07:47

Because there is a difference between charging for a missed appointment (presumably there is also a charge for attended appointments?) and delisting a patient from their local GP, making it harder for them to access healthcare at all

Show quote history

Sorry, but if people habitually miss appointments without bothering to make a quick phone call to advise of this then I can quite see why they would be delisted. It is the height of selfishness that others are denied an appointment because someone can't be bothered to turn up.

The original point incidentally was that the majority of people don't want to have to pay for an appointment they didn't use, so they either turn up or cancel. If there is no charge at all then of course they are going to abuse the system. If the surgery can't charge for missed appointments then delisting is the next best thing.

Rainingalldayonmyhead · 14/02/2025 21:03

CanadianJohn · 13/02/2025 19:27

It's very common in this city in Canada to charge $100 (about 50 pounds) for missed appointments.

I asked about this, at my ophthamologist. They quite liberal about waiving the appointment if the patient has a reasonable excuse. Given that it's so hard to get an appointment anywhere, I think that people make it a priority.

Very common in a lot of Canada which has an NHS type system. The abuse is less and the system isn’t broken the way it is here.

Also charges for misuse of an ambulance (they aren’t taxi’s
to the hospital) or A&E (there is a doctors walk in if not an emergency and charge of taking the mic). I would take the Canadian system every day of the week but then we also have health cards for identification…….

notanormalday · 14/02/2025 21:12

PrincessofWells · 13/02/2025 17:25

I can think of a few disabilities that would make this discriminatory.

Most GPS use no shows to do paperwork so it's not as if they are there twiddling their thumbs.

It's more about another patient could of had that appointment if they cancelled.

CanadianJohn · 14/02/2025 21:22

Rainingalldayonmyhead · 14/02/2025 21:03

Very common in a lot of Canada which has an NHS type system. The abuse is less and the system isn’t broken the way it is here.

Also charges for misuse of an ambulance (they aren’t taxi’s
to the hospital) or A&E (there is a doctors walk in if not an emergency and charge of taking the mic). I would take the Canadian system every day of the week but then we also have health cards for identification…….

Show quote history

I suppose ambulance charges depend where you are. I've called an ambulance twice, both calls ended up with me being admitted for a few days. Both time I received a bill for... $40, I think it was, a nominal charge.

BLUEcups · 15/02/2025 08:05

Rainingalldayonmyhead · 14/02/2025 21:03

Very common in a lot of Canada which has an NHS type system. The abuse is less and the system isn’t broken the way it is here.

Also charges for misuse of an ambulance (they aren’t taxi’s
to the hospital) or A&E (there is a doctors walk in if not an emergency and charge of taking the mic). I would take the Canadian system every day of the week but then we also have health cards for identification…….

Show quote history

I totally agree but it’ll never come to fruition because you just have to look at the moans and groans on any thread that mentions any type of payment. Even if you say £10 people start crying saying what about this that it the other it’s not fair bla bla bla.

MaturingCheeseball · 15/02/2025 10:49

exactly, @BLUEcups .

So what are some posters suggesting? That there should be no threats, let alone penalties, ever , however many times they fail to show, in case a patient has some excuse?

Also the examples given of recluses etc, well, ime those people would never pick up the phone in the first place to make an appointment. Mil, otoh, made an appointment every single week . Mind you, she eagerly attended all of them!

Original poster

Tamega · 15/02/2025 11:00

For posters who say GPs will use the time for admin- they already have time outside seeing patients to do their admin. Missed appointments are a waste of time and precious resources.

OP posts:

wherearemypastnames · 15/02/2025 12:10

A GP doing admin is after all not a GP seeing a patient- and the problem isn't their admin but the fact that they can't see everyone who wants to be seen i

Missed appointments at the GP

Interested in this thread?