Poverty main cause of ‘no shows’ at GP

Patients from deprived areas, the over 90s and adults under 30 are most likely to repeatedly miss GP appointments on a regular basis, the largest ever analysis of NHS data reveals.

The study, the first to looks at patients who miss many appointments, conducted by researchers at the University of Glasgow, found the most important indicator of why people miss multiple appointments is socio-economic hardship.

The researchers tracked the appointment histories of over half a million patients in Scotland for three years from 20132016 using NHS data provided on condition of anonymity. The study also showed nearly 20 per cent of patients missed more than two appointments 0 Miles Briggs has called for action over GP services over a three-year period. Miles Briggs MSP, Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary, said: “We must focus effort on how socially deprived people access primary care; ensure GP surgeries are in the right places, open at the right times, that there are good transport links and help for those who need it.”