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⚠️Important Update

  • From 13 October 2025 We are introducing Accurx Triage to make it easier and fairer for everyone to contact us. This means all requests will now start with a quick online form.
  • To help us prepare for this transition, our current website forms (such as Ask Reception a Question, Travel Risk Assessment, Sick note, Proxy Access Request, Change of Personal Details, and others) will close at midday on Friday 10 October.
  • If you can’t find what you’re looking for during this period, please contact the surgery directly for support.

Did not attend (DNA)

Please can we ask that you cancel your appointments if you are unable to attend, Thank you

Year 2025

  • 127 appointments were missed in September
  • 85 appointments were missed in August
  • 99 appointments were missed in July
  • 103 appointments were missed in June
  • 100 appointments were missed in May
  • 142 appointments were missed in April
  • 131 appointments were missed in March
  • 92 appointments were missed in February
  • 92 appointments were missed in January

A total of 1546 appointments were missed in 2024

The True Cost of Missed Appointments

Every appointment at Woosehill Medical Centre costs the NHS money — and when patients don’t attend without cancelling, that money is wasted, along with the chance to care for someone else.

Here’s what it roughly costs the NHS each time an appointment is missed:

  • GP appointment: £30–£40
  • Practice nurse appointment: £15–£25
  • Blood test appointment: £10–£15
  • Clinical pharmacist appointment: £16–£18

When an appointment isn’t cancelled, the slot goes unused. It cannot be offered to another patient, but the NHS still covers the cost.

At Woosehill, even just a handful of missed appointments each week adds up to hundreds of pounds lost. This also leads to longer waiting times and increased pressure on already stretched services.

How You Can Help

If you cannot attend your appointment, please cancel as soon as possible – even short notice is better than no notice.

Cancelling is quick and easy:

  • Call 0118 978 8689 and press 2 to cancel without waiting in the queue.

By cancelling, you are helping us:

  • Offer the slot to another patient in need
  • Reduce NHS waste
  • Keep waiting times down

Thank you for playing your part in protecting NHS resources.

Page published: 27 September 2024
Last updated: 7 October 2025