Ryedale | Archive | 2003 | August | 06
From the Gazette & Herald, first published Wednesday 6th Aug 2003.
DNA is a major problem for GPs in Ryedale. (That's Did Not Attends, by the way.)
The number of appointments which are not kept cause a headache for local surgeries, and limit the chance of an appointment for other patients.
In one month, Derwent Surgery in Malton recorded 691 DNAs.
For the past three months, the number has been displayed on posters in reception, but practice manager Lorraine Akers isn't sure the message is getting through.
"The figures have been fairly constant over the past few months. I don't know if the posters will make a difference but it's difficult to know what else to do."
Pickering surgery has the same problem, which is part of a national trend, with 5.5pc of appointments resulting in DNAs. Practice manager John Fletcher estimates that three weeks of a GPs working year is taken up with missed consultations.
The picture isn't as bad in Kirkbymoorside, where there were only 24 recorded instances in the month of July, but it is a much smaller surgery and time is always strained.
However, none of the practices are in favour of taking punitive measures such as `naming and shaming' repeat offenders or issuing fines as dentists now do.
It is hoped that awareness campaigns and posters like the ones at Malton will help make people realise the impact of their actions and result in a reduction of `no-shows'.
Updated: 10:47 Wednesday, August 06, 2003
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