Technology ‘can help NHS minimise impact of missed appointments’

Greater efforts are to be made to cut the numbers of missed GP and outpatient appointments using modern technology, according to NHS England.

Figures from the organisation reveal that more than 12 million GP appointments are missed each year in the UK, costing in excess of 162 million pounds per year, with a further 6.9 million outpatient hospital appointments missed annually across the country.

However, simple initiatives such as sending email and text reminders are now used by many clinics and are helping to mitigate the trend, while newer solutions let patients check, book and cancel appointments at their own convenience and order repeat medication online.

Meanwhile, telecare and telehealth services are expanding to help patients monitor their health at home and access advice without regular visits to their surgery. Outpatient consultations via Skype are also becoming common for patients who do not need a physical examination.

Beverley Bryant of NHS England said: "Patient care is always at the top of our agenda. That's why we are doing everything we can to make our service match with people's lifestyles and the technology they use."

This comes at a time when the government is seeking to do more to ensure patients have access to a wider variety of NHS services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.