A waste of time: non-attendance at out-patient clinics in a Scottish NHS Trust.

摘要: The Patient's Charter states that patients have a responsibility to attend out-patient appointments or notify the hospital if they are unable do so. Non-attendance without notification has substantial financial costs for NHS and may clinical implications non-attender other on waiting list. Objective To identify reasons non-attendance of their first appointment after referral. Design A survey by questionnaire random sample non-attenders an trust. Setting Aberdeen Royal Hospitals Trust. Subjects Ten per cent all Trust clinics over twelve month period. Results One hundred fifty five (32%) contributed survey. Cancellations accounted 22% (34) missed with factors relating illness treatment, being most common reason (14; 44%). Patients failing prior stated administrative problems (75; 57%) personal (31; 23%) were primary reasons. Clinical speciality, day week, month, availability telephone car, socioeconomic group not significantly associated non-attendance. Conclusion majority show responsible attitude attendance at outpatients when received. was found be due combination institutional (commonly administrative) patient such as forgetting about appointment.