Recent NHS data shows that millions of pounds could have been wasted due to people missing appointments. In the year leading up to April 2022, 259,731 GP slots were not attended in Nottinghamshire, across the county this equates to 4% of appointments made, which is the same as one in every 25 people not showing up to an appointment.
Whilst 5,646,009 appointments were attended across Nottinghamshire, a further 220,431 appointments had no records made regarding whether a patient turned up or not. The data collected also shows that across England a total of 13.9 million appointments were missed in the 12 months to April, equating to 4.5% of appointments.
A study conducted by the Personal Social Services Research Unit found that in 2020 the average nine-minute GP consultation cost about £39. If this was the case for all appointments, then this would mean more than £10m was wasted through missed appointments in Nottinghamshire.
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Due to the number of appointments being wasted suggestions are being made for no show patients to be fined, although many feel that this would not be the correct action to take. Dr Sarah Jarvis, a GP and clinical director, previously said missed appointments were "incredibly frustrating" when family doctors were under significant pressure.
Dr Jarvis told The Express she supported in principle the idea of fining patients a small amount – such as £5 or £10 – for wasting doctors’ time. Campaigners have also said in the national press that it would be more effective to make clear to patients repeated no-shows would have consequences.
However, GPs across Nottinghamshire were against the principle of fining patients - but opinion was split with the general public. Dr Irfan Malik of Elmswood Surgery, Sherwood, said: "Missed GP and nurse appointments are not a major issue for us and our practice. Obviously we will get the odd patients not turn up for appointments for a wide range of reasons."
He continued: "I do not agree with fining patients, I think that's not a good idea and I would prefer to support patients so they show up to appointments." This support would be done through sending patients texts and reminders of their appointments.
Dr Malik also explained that many people have to wait to get an appointment, and so when they do they "value the appointments and turn up". Dr Carter Singh MBE, of Willowbrook Medical Practice, Sutton in Ashfield, also believes that fining patients is not the correct response to missed appointments.
Dr Singh said: "I don't think fining is the answer here, I think it is about optimising patient understanding and improving the infrastructure of sending out the appointments and confirmation of appointments. It could be that they have got other plans or other appointments perhaps, so there might be a clash in their diaries and as a result of that they don't or can't turn up.
He continued: "There needs to be a mechanism by which when patients realise they can't turn up they can actually let us know, that could be via text or via social media. A system needs to be set up so that they can let us know, and then we can free up that appointment and book someone else in straight away so it doesn't go to waste."
When asked his thoughts on the Nottinghamshire figures, Dr Singh said: "I think the figure is sad, it's sad to see the amount of waste that is happening as a result of people not turning up or as a result of not telling us they are turning up so we can use the appointments for other people. It's really frustrating, when other patients who need appointments maybe can't get in."
He added: "If people understood the impact of their actions and the wastage and the amount it costs the system and therefore the tax payer, perhaps they would rethink their decision not to turn up for the appointment. Our appointments are really precious, especially in the very difficult and challenging times that we are working in, as it could have gone to somebody else."
Nottinghamshire Live decided to ask members of the public what they thought about the figures and whether people should be fined. Surprisingly many people seem in approval of fines and harsher rules.
Retired Debby Smith, 67, of Newark, said: "I always let them know, I would never ever do that, it's just unreasonable. I suppose if people are constantly doing it, then they should be fined."
When told how many people in Nottinghamshire missed their appointments, Austra Austere, 36, of Newark, said "It's unacceptable. It wastes time if they don't attend and other people may have to wait another week or two to get an appointment."
A manager at Curry's, Dave Kirkby-Clark, 39, of Newark, added: "Don't make an appointment if you are not going to show up." He feels that unless people have a "valid reason" they should be fined.
Jeanette Moffat, 66, and her son Mark Moffat, 35, both of Newark, also feel that fines would be acceptable if a good reason for missing an appointment could not be provided, as they have struggled to get appointments in the past. Jeanette said: "It's wasting the NHS's money and the doctors' time."
A 50-year-old Newark resident, who asked not to be named, said people should be "charged for not turning up unless they can actually give evidence and a valid reason of why they could not turn up". "I think that when people go to the doctor's or go to hospital they should be presented with the bill of how much it cost as if people actually saw hoe much their treatments cost, then I think people would appreciate more what they are getting and not take the ****."
Another resident, Ann, 50, of Newark feels that there should be more options for people to talk to doctors online or through Zoom calls. She said: "Like what they did during Covid, but more could be a better solution as you would get to talk to a doctor, and I think people struggle sometimes going down the line to get an appointment."
Retail manager, Martin Bishop, 50, of Newark, said: "Last time I tried to book a GP appointment it was over a week away. If one of the reasons was people failing to attend, that would make me feel so frustrated." He added: "A fine deductible at the source, via employer or benefits would soon make people take responsibility."
