Did not attend Policy (DNAs)
Background
Most of our Patients know it can sometimes be difficult to get a routine appointment with a GP or Nurse within a certain time frame. Where such demand is unpredictable, this cannot easily be remedied. One thing that makes this even more difficult to overcome is the problem of missed routine appointments – DNAs.
Where Patients have been declined routine appointments because clinicians are fully booked, it is extremely disappointing when one of those booked appointments does not turn up and has not contacted the Practice to cancel the appointment so that it can be released and allocated to another Patient.
The cost in time and money is a burden to the National Health Service generally and the Practice cannot sustain this.
Remember that your DNA is other Patient’s denied appointment.
DNA Policy
A DNA occurs when an appointment is not attended and the Patient has not contacted the Practice in advance to cancel it or where the cancellation is so late as to make it impossible to allocate that time to another Patient who needs treatment.
The Practice will code this DNA and this will prompt a check on the number of DNAs recorded against that person. As such, the following applies:
1st DNA
Where this is the first occasion, a code is automatically added to the Patient’s medical record and the DNA counted in a monthly search. The patient may also be contacted by the Practice and advised of the missed appointment.
2nd DNA
Where this is the second occasion, the Patient will be contacted by the Practice, advised of the missed appointment and an alert will be added to their record. When the Patient makes a further appointment, they will be advised by the Receptionist that the Practice is aware of their previous DNA and asked to confirm their intention to attend their next appointment. The Patient will also be informed that if a further appointment is DNA’d, they could be at risk of compromising their relationship with the Practice.
3rd DNA
Where a third DNA has occurred within a 12 month period, the Practice will review the individual case and a decision will be taken with regard to addressing the Patient’s future ability to pre‑book routine appointments. The Practice will consider whether consistent failure to adhere to our Practice policy constitutes a breakdown between the Patient and the GP (where the GP Practice has given clear instruction on policy and service provision and the Patient has chosen to disregard this on several occasions despite due warning). This ultimately could result in you being removed from the Practice List and you will need to register with an alternative Surgery.
How To Avoid Becoming A DNA
If you request an appointment, please ensure you keep a check on your phone or email for any updates regarding your appointment request as we will message you when we have booked your appointment. This may be on the day of your request or the following day. Even if we have messaged you to say we are fully booked we may get back to you again if an appointment becomes available.
If you cannot attend or no longer need an appointment, please ring us in advance – ideally 24hours before the scheduled appointment.
Mistakes do happen and the Practice understands that appointments can be forgotten about or overlooked. In such cases, the Practice will take into account the reason given by Patients. However, each Patient receives a text message reminder 24hours before the appointment.
Preference, of course, is for the Practice to know in advance so we can offer the appointment(s) to other Patients in need.
Should You Need To Cancel, Here’s How:
- If you receive SMS GP appointment text reminders, you can text back ‘CANCEL’ to cancel your GP appointment but please ensure you cancel before your appointment and at least 24 hours before so that it can be offered to another patient.
- By telephone – 01483 227060, we know this can be busy but do please persist.
- If the appointment was booked online, it can be cancelled online also on our website.
Keep it or cancel it!
Someone else needs the appointment!
Date Published: 16th January 2026
Date Updated: 16th January 2026