Due to the number of patients failing to attend for their appointments with appropriate notice, a policy has been developed to try and resolve this.
If you fail to attend appointments without informing us at least two hours prior to your appointment, we will contact you.
Where a third DNA has occurred, a final warning correspondence will be sent and the practice will review the individual case and a decision will be taken with regard to addressing the patient’s future ability to pre-book advanced appointments. The practice will consider whether consistent failure to adhere to our practice policy constitutes a breakdown between the patient and the GP (where the GP practice has given clear instruction on policy and service provision and the patient has chosen to disregard this on several occasions in spite of due warning). With the decision made the patient will be contacted in writing.
You may be removed from the practice list and have to find an alternative GP practice. If there are any specific problems preventing you from attending please let us know. Mistakes do happen and the practice understands that appointments can be forgotten or overlooked. In such cases, the practice will take into account the reason given by patients. The practice regularly advises patients to keep contact details up to date to avoid text message reminders being undelivered.
How to avoid a DNA
If the patient cannot attend or no longer needs an appointment they can contact the surgery at least 2 hours before the appointment either by;
- Calling: 0208 539 1663
- Text messaging: Replying to text message reminders sent automatically by the practice
- Through patient access
- In person at reception
(The practice does not recommend cancellations in writing as delay could occur in receiving).