This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
Missed appointments cost the NHS £1bn last year
Almost eight million hospital outpatient appointments were missed due to patients not attending in 2016/17, meaning almost £1 billion worth of appointments were missed.
The NHS Digital figures also showed that over nine million people were sent home from A&E in 2016/17 with just guidance and advice, which could have been obtained more conveniently from a pharmacist or by calling 111.
With each missed outpatient appointment costing the NHS approximately £120 in 2016/17, it means almost £1 billion worth of appointments were missed. Therefore, Prof Jane Cummings, chief nursing officer for England, has urged patients to cancel their NHS appointments in good time if they are not able to attend, in order to free up resources for those who need them.
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has previously hinted at the possibility of charging patients for missed appointments, but such a move has never come to fruition.
Latest News
16/02/2024 - 12:56
Hammersmith and Fulham Council has created a new alliance intended to clean dirty air and improve residents' health.
16/02/2024 - 10:44
Two million more GP appointments a month are being delivered for patients compared to the same month before the pandemic as part of the NHS primary care access recovery plan according to new NHS data.
15/02/2024 - 10:26
The Welsh Government has provided innovation funding of £380,000 to support two projects utilising technology in domiciliary care.
15/02/2024 - 10:13
The new Scottish health secretary has met with frontline staff at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
14/02/2024 - 10:27
The North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) has appointed three new Executive Directors to the Trust Board.
Product Features
UK Building Regulations highlight toxic gas and smoke from layers of paint built up over multiple redecorations as a major cause of permanent ill health or death in a building fire.
Their concern rose with discovery the flame retardant paints most widely used paint along escape routes have been ones which to this day counter-productively use emission of heavy toxic gas to smother flames which rapidly spread along walls if layers of paint delaminate in a fire.
Supplier Profiles
Northwich’s Victoria Infirmary (VIN) Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) has enabled more patients
Adveco, the commercial hot water specialist, announces the launch of live metering of domestic ho
Latest Features
Sarah Greenslade, public affairs and communications officer at the British Parking Association looks at some of the problems and innovations in healthcare parking
It’s easy to assume that the comms team is there to handle press enquiries and the occasional social media storm – but the reality is that strategic communications can make a measurable impact across the entire organisation, from operational to financial, when done properly
