The number of patients not attending NHS appointments in Scotland has increased to over 161,180 figures for last year have shown. The number of patients not attending an NHS Tayside appointment was 14,834 accounting for over 9% of NHS Tayside’s 161,180 consultant led appointments last year.
Liz Smith, Scottish Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland & Fife said:
“It is totally unacceptable that one in ten of all NHS appointments are missed by patients. In some cases it is understandable that some patients have to miss an appointment due to ill health or
“Last year patients across NHS Tayside missed over 14,834 appointments with patients not attending accounting for over 9% of NHS Tayside’s 161,180 consultant led appointments.
“Our NHS is clearly under substantial pressure and the cost of each missed appointments is estimated at £160 amounting to an estimated £25million last year alone. We need to ensure that vital NHS resources are used more effectively and that patients are aware of the cost to the NHS of missing appointments.
“Modern technology such as text messages and email has changed the way many people live their day to day lives. It is time that the NHS embraced this technology to help patients and ultimately save money.
“I have written to the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Shona Robison to ask what steps are being taken to address the significant cost of patients not attending appointment and asked what steps are being taken to use technology such as text messages to help reduce the numbers.”