PLEASE HELP US REDUCE MISSED GP APPOINTMENTS

Unattended Face-to-Face GP Appointments

During August 2026, a total of 96 face-to-face GP appointments at Crayford Town Surgery were not attended by patients. This figure is reflected in practice records.

Patients receive appointment reminders by text message, yet many appointments are still being missed without being cancelled.

The Cost to the NHS

Each GP appointment costs the NHS approximately £30. Based on 96 missed appointments, this represents a loss of around £2,880 in NHS resources during August alone. This is money that could have been used to provide care for other patients.

The Impact on Other Patients

We regularly receive complaints from patients who are struggling to obtain GP appointments. If these 96 appointments had been cancelled in advance, they could have been offered to other patients who needed medical care.

Every missed appointment means:

• Longer waiting times for patients.
• Reduced availability of GP appointments.
• Increased pressure on NHS services.
• Valuable NHS resources being wasted.

Please Help Us

If you can no longer attend your appointment, please cancel it as soon as possible by:

• Calling the surgery.
• Using the NHS App.
• Following the cancellation instructions included in your appointment reminder.

Remember

If you do not need your appointment, please cancel it so that another patient can be seen.

Don't waste these valuable appointments. Your cancellation could help someone else receive the care they need.

Thank you for helping us make the best use of NHS resources.