Big rise in cancelled hospital appointments

UNIVERSITY Hospitals of Leicestershire cancelled one in six appointments last year, twice as many as in 2006/07.

With patients increasingly likely to face the hospital cancelling their appointment, a patient advocacy group has said, with the funding promised in last week’s budget unlikely to meet need, the situation is set to become even more common.

The trust cancelled 249,657 outpatient appointments in 2016/17, 16.1 per cent of all appointments, or one in six.

This was the highest proportion cancelled by the hospital since figures began in 2006/07.

In 2006/07, the trust cancelled 145,491 outpatient appointments, 14.8 per cent or one in seven, suggesting hospital cancellations are rising at a faster pace than the overall rise in appointments.

Across England, trusts cancelled 8.3m outpatient appointments in 2016/17, seven per cent of all appointments, or one in 14. This was the highest proportion cancelled by the hospital since figures began in 2006/07.

In 2006/07, trusts cancelled 3m outpatient appointments, 4.7 per cent or one in 21,

There were 118.6 million outpatient appointments in 2016/17, increasing from 2015-16, where there were 113.3 million outpatient appointments.

John Kell, Head of Policy at the Patients Association, said: “Cancelled appointments not only delay patients getting the care they need, but can cause patients additional difficulties such as needing to take more time off work.

“Once again we are seeing how an underfunded NHS directly affects patient care and and the Chancellor’s cash injection in the last week’s Budget is unlikely to reverse these effects.

“The extra £1.6 billion promised for next year is nowhere near the amount necessary just to keep services at their current levels, and we will see problems like cancelled appointments become more and more common.”