Andy says: FIne those that fail to turn up for GP Appointments

MISSED GP appointments could be costing the cash-strapped NHS £50,000 a month in Bolton alone.

The Bolton News carried out a poll of all GP practices in the borough to reveal an estimated 2,500 appointments are missed every month.

Each missed appointment costs the NHS at least £20, which pays for staff, accommodation costs and other administration fees.

Dr Ian James, from the Spring House Surgery in Chorley Old Road, reported 184 missed appointments in August and 205 in September.

He said: "Patients missing appointments puts a lot of extra pressure on GPs because if we didn't have to waste time dealing with missed appointments we would have more time dealing with genuine cases.

"It shows complete disregard for the doctor and the team at the practice, is demeaning to us and selfish when it comes to other patients."

Dr Casswell'sn surgery in Crescent Road, Great Lever, had 82 missed appointments in August and 145 in September, Dr Wakefield and partners in Ashburner Street, Bolton, had 162 in August and 159 in September.

Dr Littlewood and partners in Deane Road, Deane, had 165 in August and 173 in September, while Dr Silvert and partners in Highfield Road, Farnworth, reported 212 missed appointments in August and 262 in September.

Other surgeries in Bolton had had dozens of missed appointments.

Chairman of Bolton Council's health scrutiny committee, Cllr Andy Morgan, said: "The fact people make appointments then fail to attend is completely out of order.

"It is because of these people that most of us experience difficulties and delays in making GP appointments.

"I would introduce fines for missed appointments without cancellation, with the money raised being pumped back into the NHS to improve services further."

Tim Evans, chief executive of Bolton Primary Care Trust, added: "Missing an appointment means wasting NHS resources that could have been used by someone else.

"I would ask that people make a real effort to turn up for appointments and tell us well in advance if they absolutely can't make a date."

Original Article Appeared in the Bolton News Link on 22/10/08 as follows:n http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/3779242.Missed_GP_appointments_cost___50_000_a_month_in_Bolton/