Do You Remember Appointments?

Missed appointments cost the NHS and taxpayers millions of pounds every year, as resources are wasted and those who fail to turn up, for whatever reason, have to reschedule. Other patients suffer, as waiting times are lengthened by constant rescheduling. 

A Saga poll, carried out by Populus, reveals that 13% of Saga customers with regular medical appointments find it ‘hard’ to manage them.

Today, Saga calls for a better use of technology, to focus more resources on preventing people from missing their appointments, including:

- Greater use of email and text alerts as appointment reminders

- More widespread use of appointment/consultation systems that let patients check, book and cancel at their own convenience

- More provision for ordering repeat medication online

- Expansion of telecare and telehealth services that let patients monitor their health at home and get medical advice without the inconvenience of travelling to their surgery.