Hundreds failing to turn up at hospital
Hundreds of patients failed to keep appointments at Oswestry's orthopaedic hospital last month causing thousands of pounds of unnecessary expenditure, it has emerged. Hundreds of patients failed to keep appointments at Oswestry's orthopaedic hospital last month causing thousands of pounds of unnecessary expenditure, it has emerged. Bosses at the Gobowen-based hospital today called on patients to keep their appointments. Tim Craig, of Whittington, who has been waiting six weeks for treatment to his damaged shoulder, said he had been told by hospital staff that there had been more than 200 no-shows and cancellations in October. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
Bosses at the Gobowen-based hospital today called on patients to keep their appointments.
Tim Craig, of Whittington, who has been waiting six weeks for treatment to his damaged shoulder, said he had been told by hospital staff that there had been more than 200 no-shows and cancellations in October.
He said: "I have been waiting six weeks for an appointment, which in fairness I was advised is the norm as they are so very busy. I called yesterday to see how the waiting list was looking and the person I spoke to admitted that there was a very high demand.
"She went on to say this was frustrating because last month they had 200 no-shows/cancellations."
John Grinnell, finance director at the orthopaedic hospital, said: "On average over 250 patients do not attend their outpatient appointment each month, which is about six per cent of our patients.
"Whilst these are lower levels than at many other NHS hospital trusts, these non-attendances do cause operational problems and means that the trust does not get paid for the unused slots. The trust is doing what it can to reduce levels of non-attendance."
