Physio No-Shows Costing NHS Tens of Thousands

In northern Lincolnshire, a concerning trend of missed physiotherapy appointments has emerged, with nearly a third of patients failing to attend scheduled sessions. This rate has escalated significantly over the past year, reaching approximately 30% at Scunthorpe General Hospital and Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby.

The NHS Humber Health Partnership reports that these 'no-shows' are incurring substantial costs, estimated in the tens of thousands of pounds. In October alone, 136 musculoskeletal and hand therapy appointments were missed, amounting to 68 lost clinical hours. These hours represent valuable time that could have been dedicated to assisting other patients currently on waiting lists for treatment.

Hollie Iggleden, a musculoskeletal clinical expert, is conducting research to identify the underlying causes for patients not attending their appointments. She emphasizes the considerable negative impact of missed appointments on the NHS, affecting both financial resources and staff efficiency.