Asked by: Mike Weatherley (Conservative - Hove)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many GP appointments were missed in (a) 2009, (b) 2010, (c) 2011, (d) 2012 and (e) 2013.
Answered by Dan Poulter
Information is not collected centrally on the number of missed general practitioner (GP) appointments. This is a matter for local organisations. However, NHS England estimates that each year around 12 million GP appointments are missed, at a cost to the system of £162 million.
In order to reduce the number of missed GP appointments, the Prime Minister's Challenge Fund is supporting pilots to ensure appointments are as convenient as possible for the patient. The pilots will offer millions more patients evening and weekend GP appointments, as well as introducing initiatives, such as email and Skype consultations.
Asked by: Mike Weatherley (Conservative - Hove)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of missed GP appointments; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Dan Poulter
Information is not collected centrally on the number of missed general practitioner (GP) appointments. This is a matter for local organisations. However, NHS England estimates that each year around 12 million GP appointments are missed, at a cost to the system of £162 million.
In order to reduce the number of missed GP appointments, the Prime Minister's Challenge Fund is supporting pilots to ensure appointments are as convenient as possible for the patient. The pilots will offer millions more patients evening and weekend GP appointments, as well as introducing initiatives, such as email and Skype consultations.
Asked by: Mike Weatherley (Conservative - Hove)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures are currently in place to record the number of missed GP appointments.
Answered by Dan Poulter
Information is not collected centrally on the number of missed general practitioner (GP) appointments. This is a matter for local organisations. However, NHS England estimates that each year around 12 million GP appointments are missed, at a cost to the system of £162 million.
In order to reduce the number of missed GP appointments, the Prime Minister's Challenge Fund is supporting pilots to ensure appointments are as convenient as possible for the patient. The pilots will offer millions more patients evening and weekend GP appointments, as well as introducing initiatives, such as email and Skype consultations.
Asked by: Mike Weatherley (Conservative - Hove)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what meetings he has had with patient groups to discuss the difficulties patients face in booking appointments with their GP.
Answered by Dan Poulter
The Department's Ministers regularly meet with Members of Parliament to discuss issues relating to general practice affecting their constituents. They have not had any meetings with patient groups to discuss the difficulties patients face in booking appointments.