Missed Appointments - FOI Response Register

1. The number of missed appointments across all medical areas in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 & 2023.

With regards to missed primary care appointments then in accordance with FOISA s 17(1), NHS Shetland confirms that it does not hold the information requested.

Figures provided are for the number of did not attend outpatient and inpatient appointments.

2. The financial cost of these missed appointments, broken down into yearly totals for 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 & 2023

Did not Attend In-patient or Day Case:

Health Board unique cost incurred for an individual who did not attend (DNA) is not routinely calculated. The NHS Scotland published cost data calculation is based upon in-patient stay or day case average cost. This only includes those who attended.

If an individual is a DNA the Board will save on marginal costs that may be avoided but these are minimal. These primary being food, laundry and some other domestic costs that are not routinely calculated at an individual patient level.

Other costs are fixed, e.g. non-domestic rates, and not directly affected by patient activity and staff establishment in the ward or theatre is unlikely to have been different due to patient attending or not.

The primary issue with a DNA is the opportunity cost incurred if that prevents a different patient being able to access their elective treatment.

Did not Attend Out-patient:

Health Board unique cost incurred for an individual who did not attend (DNA) is not routinely calculated. The NHS Scotland published cost data calculation is based upon average cost for those who attended.

If an individual is a DNA the Board will save on marginal costs that may be avoided but these are minimal. These though are not routinely calculated at an individual patient level.

Other costs are fixed, e.g. non-domestic rates, and not directly affected by patient activity and staff establishment is unlikely to have been different due to patient attending or not.

The primary issue with a DNA is the opportunity cost incurred if that prevents a different patient being able to access their elective treatment.

3. The total amount of minutes (or hours) spent on missed appointments, broken down into yearly totals for 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 & 2023

In accordance with FOISA s 17(1), NHS Shetland confirms that it does not hold the information requested as the collation of the information would require skill and complex judgement.