Hundreds of thousands of people missed medical appointments across the Bristol area in the last year – costing the NHS millions.
Statistics show in 2019, out of the 5352,854 appointments provided at GP practices across the area, there were 277,033 no shows.
The worst month for people failing to turn up for appointments was October, with 26,109 people not attending their consultation.
Appointments include consultations with therapists, nurses, other practice staff as well as GPs.
According to NHS England, a missed appointment costs the NHS around £30. The missed appointments equate to around £8.3 million a year in the Bristol area.
Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Care Commissioning Group (CCG) works with 80 practices across the Bristol area.
Many now offer evening and weekend appointments in a bid to cope with the demand.
A spokesperson for the CCG said: “Ninety per cent of people’s interaction with health and care services takes place in primary care and we’re investing in GP practices to build their role as the bedrock of local provision.
“We are committed to improving access in primary care. All practices should be offering online consultations by April 2020 and video consultations by April 2021.
“Already, GP practices in our area are offering improved access to appointments during evenings and weekends.
“We are also increasing the range of health care roles at GP practices across our area, including paramedics, physicians’ associates and physiotherapists.”
One of the biggest bugbears amongst patients is the length of time it can take to get an appointment with their GP, with some having to wait weeks.
'We have a duty'
NHS bosses are urging those who cannot make their appointment to inform their practice as soon as possible, so the slot can be offered to someone else.
The spokesman added: “We have a duty to use our local resources in the most effective way possible.
"We would always encourage people who are unable to attend an appointment, or who no longer need one, to contact their GP practice as soon as possible so the time can be offered to someone else.”
