Did Not Attend (DNA) Policy
The demand for GP and Nurse appointments is growing all the time. It is vitally important that patients let their practice know if they cannot attend a booked appointment so it can be offered to another patient.
Lost appointments because of DNA's (did not attends) are a part of the reason that other patients experience difficulties in accessing services. Each of these lost appointments lead to an increase in the waiting time for appointments along with growing frustration for both staff and patients. This policy is approved by the whole Healthboard area of Cwm Taf, and has the support of the Community Health Council, though not all practices choose to implement it as fully as described here.
General Policy - When a patient fails to attend for their appointment (without notifying the practice), an entry will be made on their medical record. Before policy is initiated the practice should check the medical records to see if there are any reasons a patient may be failing to attend for appointments. If this is the case actions should be put in place to help them with attending for appointments
1) If a patient fails to attend an appointment on two separate occasions without notifying the practice or providing an explanation as to why they missed their appointment within the past 12 months, an initial letter will be sent to the patients containing: - The practice DNA policy - · An offer to the patient to meet with the practice manager to discuss any particular problems they may have (social or clinical) which prevents them from informing the practice when they are unable to attend an appointment
2) If a patient fails to attend a third appointment then a final warning of missed appointments (DNA) letter may be sent by the practice manager or the GP Partner explaining that failure to attend any further appointments in a rolling 12 month period from the first missed appointment, may at the discretion of the doctors, result in them being removed from the practice list.
3) Except in exceptional circumstances, failure to attend a fourth appointment will result in the patient being sent a letter informing them they have been removed as a patient from the practice list and they should find an alternative practice
The demand for GP and Nurse appointments is growing all the time. It is vitally important that patients let their practice know if they cannot attend a booked appointment so it can be offered to another patient.
Lost appointments because of DNA's (did not attends) are a part of the reason that other patients experience difficulties in accessing services. Each of these lost appointments lead to an increase in the waiting time for appointments along with growing frustration for both staff and patients. This policy is approved by the whole Healthboard area of Cwm Taf, and has the support of the Community Health Council, though not all practices choose to implement it as fully as described here.
General Policy - When a patient fails to attend for their appointment (without notifying the practice), an entry will be made on their medical record. Before policy is initiated the practice should check the medical records to see if there are any reasons a patient may be failing to attend for appointments. If this is the case actions should be put in place to help them with attending for appointments
1) If a patient fails to attend an appointment on two separate occasions without notifying the practice or providing an explanation as to why they missed their appointment within the past 12 months, an initial letter will be sent to the patients containing: - The practice DNA policy - · An offer to the patient to meet with the practice manager to discuss any particular problems they may have (social or clinical) which prevents them from informing the practice when they are unable to attend an appointment
2) If a patient fails to attend a third appointment then a final warning of missed appointments (DNA) letter may be sent by the practice manager or the GP Partner explaining that failure to attend any further appointments in a rolling 12 month period from the first missed appointment, may at the discretion of the doctors, result in them being removed from the practice list.
3) Except in exceptional circumstances, failure to attend a fourth appointment will result in the patient being sent a letter informing them they have been removed as a patient from the practice list and they should find an alternative practice