Health services feel the pressure of 10,267 GP appointments missed in June
THOUSANDS of missed GP appointments are putting further strain on busy health services.
There were 564,111 appointments made in practices in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland in June, an increase of 112,801 in the same month last year and 13.5 per cent higher than in 2019 before the pandemic.
But while demand is high, Leicester Leicestershire and Rutland Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) recorded 10,267 missed appointments in June.
NHS bosses are now urging people to cancel unwanted appointments.
Dr Sulaxni Nainani, a member of Leicester City CCG governing body and GP at De Montfort Surgery, said demand on local health services had been high since the lockdown ended.
People had avoided seeking appointments due to the pandemic but services are now seeing the knock-on effect of increased demand.
The doctor said: “In Leicester particularly, people probably felt more worried about going out so people have left things to the back of their minds.
“But people feel more comfortable now after having their Covid-19 jabs and they feel a bit safer visiting their GP.”
But while the lockdown is over, the pandemic is not. Dr Nainani said: “The pandemic has not gone anywhere and that has impacted the workforce because people might be having to isolate and so on - and now that people are more confident to step out, lots of sectors are busier.” Alongside the issue of missed appointments, services are further stretched.
Dr Nainani said: “It’s difficult to say why appointments have been missed but in any situation, it’s important that people do ring their practice and let them know.”
Missed appointments are lost opportunities for the “long list of patients waiting”.
“We really want the public to come forward and get in touch when they need help, but when people don’t cancel their appointments it means someone who needs it is waiting.
“If patients are not coming in the doctor is waiting or has to chase them and it does have an impact on other patients,” Dr Nainani said.
The doctor explained that on some occasions, people who feel better since making their initial booking might feel better ahead of the appointment.
“Some people might be feeling a bit better since they made their appointment and feel they don’t need it anymore but if people are unsure, we would urge them to call the reception.
“They are trained to signpost you to the right place,” she said.
While those seeking health appointments might expect to see a doctor, in many cases, the doctor said, other trained professionals could help.
“GP practices nowadays have a whole workforce of people with a range of skills so it might not actually be a doctor you need, it could be a pharmacist or a physiotherapist who might be able to have you seen quicker,” she said.
Dr Nainani added: “I would strongly urge people to use the NHS app as well, which can give you more of an idea of the help you might need and whether self-care is an option.”