NHS Nottinghamshire Loses £9m to Missed GP Appointments

In Nottinghamshire, the NHS is facing significant financial losses totaling over £9 million annually due to missed GP appointments. In 2025, a substantial 311,238 appointments were not attended by patients, contributing to this considerable cost. Celia Knight, a patient and former secretary of a patient participation group, has called for greater patient accountability, emphasizing that failing to cancel appointments wastes staff time and leads to longer waits for others.

Knight highlighted the financial strain, noting that surgeries pay GPs for services that are ultimately not delivered when patients miss appointments. She urged a collective effort from practices, the NHS, and patients to reduce these 'did not attend' (DNA) figures. While the number of missed appointments saw a slight decrease in 2025 compared to the previous year, it occurred despite an increase in the total number of appointments available.

Dr. Thilan Bartholomeuz shared that his practices have significantly reduced DNA rates by implementing a new online booking system and limiting appointments to within the next seven days. This approach contrasts with booking weeks in advance and has reportedly slashed monthly DNAs from over 300 to around 70. He emphasized that each missed appointment not only incurs financial cost but also represents a lost opportunity for another patient seeking care.