149 Missed Appointments in One Month: Why It Matters — and How a Small Action Can Make a Big Difference
Aspatria Medical Group has reported 149 missed appointments in just one month — that’s 149 clinical slots where staff were prepared, ready to see patients, but those patients did not attend and did not let the practice know in advance.
While this example comes from a single practice, it reflects a challenge being experienced right across general practice in Cumbria. Many surgeries are seeing significant numbers of unused appointments every month, and local teams are keen to raise awareness of the impact this has on patient care.
Why missed appointments matter
Across social media and in day-to-day conversations, it’s common to hear people say “I can never get an appointment!” — often with understandable frustration. Demand for health services is rising year on year as more of us live longer with more complex conditions, and practices work hard to provide timely, appropriate care.
When someone doesn’t attend their appointment and doesn’t cancel it, that booked slot becomes unusable. A clinician is still allocated to that time, but another patient who needed help could not be booked in.
A small action that helps another patient
One of the simplest ways to support your local practice — and your wider community — is to let the surgery know as soon as possible if you cannot attend your appointment.
Even very short notice cancellations can often be re-allocated.
Every cancelled appointment is a slot that can be offered to someone else who needs care. Every missed appointment is a lost opportunity to help another patient.
Understanding how modern triage works
We recently highlighted more about how the triage processes across North Cumbria help ensure patients are directed to the right person, first time — whether that’s a GP, nurse, physiotherapist, mental health practitioner, pharmacist or another member of the multidisciplinary team.
This system is designed to make the best use of the whole primary care workforce and ensure that patients are seen by the most appropriate clinician for their needs.
Practices appreciate everyone who takes the time to notify them when they can no longer attend. These small acts genuinely reduce pressure, increase availability and help improve access for other patients.
Thank you for continuing to work with your local health teams to keep services running smoothly.
