Huge number of 'no shows' for Galway hospital appointments
Around 720 patients every week fail to turn up for medical appointments at Galway city’s two public hospitals, it has been revealed.
The startling figures show that there were 37,442 patient ‘no-shows’ for outpatient appointments at University Hospital Galway and Merlin Park Hospital in the past year.
The huge level of no-shows – representing 16% of the 260,801 outpatient appointments scheduled in 2013 – is contributing to lengthy waiting lists, according to the hospitals.
There are some 21,635 patients waiting on outpatients waiting lists, and they are on the lists for longer because other patients aren’t turning up for appointments, Galway University Hospital (GUH) has said. Patients who fail to turn up for appointments, and who do not tell the hospital in advance that they will not be attending, are also costing the health service financially.
Ann Cosgrove, General Manager, GUH, said a “priority” this year is to make inroads in reducing the outpatients’ waiting list.
“We have a significant problem with patients not showing up for appointments,” she said.
“We could have shortened our waiting list and reduced the waiting time for other patients had we been able to reallocate the appointments for the people who didn’t show up. We understand that patients may be given appointment dates or times that do not suit and we would ask patients to let us know if that is the case. If patients are unable to attend and take the time to notify us in advance it means that we can reschedule their appointment and also offer the original appointment time to another patient.”
The hospitals have introduced a new text reminder system which allows patients to confirm by text message whether or not they will attend their appointment. There are follow-up texts to check if they no longer need an appointment or if they need a new appointment date.
“Once we know that someone is unable to make their appointment, we are able to offer the appointment to the next person waiting on the list and this is helping to reduce the waiting list also,” said Ms Cosgrove.
The hospitals have sent text reminders to 15,186 patients since the new system was introduced, and 12,801 or 84% have responded. Patients who do not have mobile phones or whose text messages failed to deliver, were sent the traditional reminder letters.
“I would like to thank patients for responding to the texts as they are helping us to ensure that all appointment slots are filled. The new text system was initially introduced for a number of outpatient clinics such as Ear Nose and Throat, cardiology, paediatrics, rheumatology, urology, plastics, vascular and oncology and based on the success to date we will be extending it to other clinics in the coming weeks.”