An appointment is classed as ‘Did Not Attend’ (or DNA) when a patient fails to attend or does not cancel/rearrange an appointment with sufficient notice for it to be reallocated.
This causes frustration for both staff and patients and is a waste of resources. The effect is to increase waiting times for appointments with doctors and nurses.
Practice procedure and warnings
If a patient fails to attend an appointment on two occasions over a twelve month period, then a letter will be sent to the patient. The letter will advise them that a further failure to attend may result in their removal from the practice. The letter should be considered as a formal warning and further failure to attend may result in removal from the practice list.
Matters will be discussed at a partners meeting and a decision will be made as to whether the patient is removed from the list.
Warning letters are valid for a period of 12 months.
Last modified: January 12, 2023