Fines for Missing a Doctor or Dentist Appointment?

We are on Denplan and already pay a decent amount every month, yet we missed an appointment ONCE in such a long time, it was an accident. They charged me for it absolutely disgusting considering I had already technically paid. You still have to pay extra for a lab fees and other things so it isn't even a prepayment plus you have to go regularly, ideally every 6 months or privately they often take you off their system or reassess your condition next time adding more on.

So paying a huge amount a month, just ensures you have somewhere to go these days, doesn't get you much else

It should be taken into account that people are completely different, some how early dementia, people with mental health conditions, people that are too ill or die... can't always be helped cancelling later than 24 hours. It should also depend on repeat offenders and why they cancelled or missed the appointment. It can't be a one size fits all.

Repeat offenders who don't seem to care - sure, but it is proving why and finding a solution to stop it happening in the future.

I'm sure this has been discussed on here recently all I can find is this thread though, that I don't seem to have responded to: www.latestdeals.co.uk/chat/rishi-sunak-wants-10-fines-missing-gp-hospital-appointments

People who miss appointments all the time should get fined but I want the same when they cancel on me the day of my appointment

I think there should be some punishment but not sure fining people is the way to go

What about the Dentist NOT turning up for your appointment, NOT informing you either??

This happened to my sister today, her appointment was cancelled as the Dentist was at a Religious Festival & forgot to inform my sister ..

UNPROFESSIONAL OR WHAT??

I believe something should be done but like people say what about when your appointment gets cancelled. If you have arranged time off work can be very inconvenient.

If people don't turn up without canceling or rescheduling the said appointment, I think they should be fined unless they have a good reason for unexpectedly not turning up (things beyond our control can happen at times). Not only is it bad manners, missed appointments cost time and money.

I miss mine all the time because they don't send me any letters, they say they do but obviously not!!

I'm on an Amber warning with GP because I 'missed' two appointments. The first I was actually in the waiting room and had been for 20 minutes when I got the "you did not attend text", the receptionist had forgot to mark me as having arrived. The second time I got the same text and knew nothing about the appointment when asking at surgery it transpired it was for someone else but both misses are on my records.

I've had several appointments for blood tests when I get there they say cancelled it ,I said what about letting me know? they just shrug and say next !

I dont think we should fine patients for missing NHS appointments as there will always be some who genuinely didnt get the appointment letter and cant afford a fine. That said there are far too many lost appointments which is a real problem while waiting lists are so long. When patients do phone in they rarely admit to just forgetting and so often blame the hospital for not sending letters etc when we know they were sent out. Years ago when booking appointments I got an extremely angry caller who had been discharge for non attendance, absolutely adamant that she never received a letter, so we booked her in for another appointment the following week. When she attended that one she booked in by presenting the letter that she swore blind she didnt have with the new appointment time hand written on!

If this starts it also has to work in reverse, many times doctors and consultants have kept me waiting for over an hour, in one case I was actually forgotten about (consultants usually apologise the GPs never apologise which says it all really) our time is just as important as theirs (which no-one ever acknowledges when ever these articles-topic arises) especially when your employer isn’t paying for you to go to your appointment or you have to make up the time later on in the day, it needs to be equal

I think if they don’t make an effort to inform them they can’t make it, yes I think they should, but maybe after something like missed 2 in 12monthd then if miss the 3rd they get a fine, or something like that, that’s just an example

I am torn on this one. If it weren't for lazy uncaring people who fail to cancel if they no longer need the appointment, it would be easier for everyone else to get one. But then people like myself who has never missed an app and always cancelled if not needed would be penalised. It's the old, old story, folk who couldn't care less make things bad for everyone.

When I have an appointment I make sure to be 10-20mins earlier and just wait to be called.

However, should people who miss their appointments be fined? Give them a warning and if next time they still do it (without a fair reason to), then yes.

You obviously don't want to penalize people who would want to make their appointment while unable to due to pain/sickness.