Appointment DNA’s

In the month of October 2024, we were able to offer 3,978 appointments at Hawthorn Medical Centre. We had 381 patients who ‘Did Not Attend’ (DNA’d) their appointments.

A DNA is where the patient did not attend and did not contact the surgery in advance to cancel/change the appointment.

Many valuable appointment slots are wasted every month because of DNA’s. The impact of this is:

  • An increase in the waiting time for appointments
  • Frustration for both staff and patients
  • Wasted resources

If you find that you are unable to keep an appointment, please let us know AS SOON AS POSSIBLE so that we can re-allocate the appointment to another patient.

You can cancel your appointment:

  • Online (if you have access to online services)
  • Via SMS text message
  • Via telephone (through the automated system)

If it is less than 2 hours until your appointment time, please can the surgery reception on (01793 536541) to cancel your appointment.

Continued non-attendance for appointments without acceptable notice may results in you being asked to register elsewhere.

“More than 15 million general practice appointments are being wasted each year because patients do not turn up and fail to warn surgeries that they will not be attending. Each appointment costs an average of £30, putting the total cost to the NHS at more than £216million on top of the disruption for staff and fellow patients.” (NHS England)

Date published: 1st February, 2024
Date last updated: 1st November, 2024