The shocking figures that show some patients treat the NHS with contempt
Particularly given the parlous state of the NHS, the number of missed appointments by patients is a disgrace
SNP governments have now been in charge of running the NHS in Scotland for nearly 20 years. It is their responsibility. So when things go well, they should receive credit and, when they go badly, the blame.
Unfortunately for the nationalists, the health service has been in a state of dramatic decline for years. While there is occasionally some good news, it is usually minimal, and the bad news comes on a regular basis.
For example, the latest Public Health Scotland statistics on A&E performance show that less than 68 per cent of patients were admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours in June, the lowest ever figure recorded for the month. April and May were also record lows.
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Letting the NHS down
However, while the SNP are in overall charge, that does not mean no one else has an influence. Clearly, the performance of NHS staff – whether they be managers, doctors, nurses or cleaners – is a significant factor. The widespread praise they receive is one sign they are, on the whole, doing a good job.
The third group of people whose actions have a significant bearing on the state of the health services is, quite obviously, its patients, ie most of us. When we fail to meet our own responsibilities – mostly just to turn up on time – we let the NHS down.
According to figures we publish today, since 2021, more than 586,000 outpatient appointments have been cancelled by clinicians, sometimes on the same day that patients were due to attend; over 521,000 appointments were missed by patients; and some 690,000 were cancelled after patients told the NHS they could not attend.
This adds up to a total of nearly 1.8 million missed and cancelled appointments over the past five years. Clearly there will sometimes be good reasons why an appointment does not go ahead as planned, but this is a staggering number.
Doing our duty
NHS staff are under severe pressure. However, the figures suggest the management of appointments could and should be handled better.
The patient figures are truly shocking. They suggest far too many people are, quite disgracefully, treating the health service with contempt. Missed appointments cost the NHS money and also deny others a chance to receive treatment at a time when some are forced to wait for years.
The SNP is responsible for the NHS, the buck stops with them. But the rest of us must do our duty too.
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