Keep it or cancel it

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GP appointment? Don't need it? Cancel it!

We know people forget things, cancelling GP appointments being one of them. Remember to cancel your appointment if you don't need it.

How to Cancel an Appointment

If you are unable to keep your appointment, please give us as much notice as possible so that your appointment can be offered to someone else.

If you are cancelling please telephone us as soon as possible, and at least 30 minutes before your appointment time. This will enable us to offer your appointment to someone else.

Alternatively you can cancel your appointment online using our online form, SystmOnline or The NHS App if you are signed up to the service.

Please remember that there may be a shortage of appointments and when you fail to attend you have prevented someone else from being seen in your place. On average about 230 appointments are missed each month

Cancellations notified less than 30 minutes before the appointment time will be recorded as failure to attend (DNA).

Repeated failure to attend booked appointments is a significant waste of NHS resources

Did Not Attend Policy

Those who have failed to attend 2 or more appointments within the previous 3 months will receive a warning letter.

Those who have had a warning letter and go on to miss a further appointment will receive another letter stating that they will only be able to book on the day appointments, a protocol added to the patient record will alert staff to this.

Those who go on to DNA same day appointments will be invited in to discuss a contract and develop an appointment plan that would include them needing to call to confirm the appointment otherwise the appointment will be cancelled.
Warning letters last for 12 months.