DNA Policy

Non-Attendance of Booked Appointments (DNA)

Introduction

The purpose of this policy is to address instances of not keeping booked appointments with the Practice.   The scope of this policy is therefore:

• Instances of not keeping an appointment with the Doctor
• Instances of not keeping an appointment with the Nurse
• Instances of not keeping an appointment with any other Healthcare Professional

Definition

The definition of a DNA is:

• When a person has booked an appointment with any of the above and failed to attend for that appointment without previously notifying the practice of their intention to not keep the appointment
• Where a review appointment has been booked and the patient fails to keep this appointment without previously notifying the practice of their intention to not keep the appointment
• Where an appointment has been sent to the patient and they do not notify us of their intention not to keep the appointment

Consequences

• In the first instance the patient will be written to informing them of the practice policy on DNA’s, which is to off list persistent offenders.
• A letter will be sent on 3 subsequent occasions if the patient persists in DNA’s warning of our policy to off list persistent offenders.
• The 4th letter will inform the patient of our intention to off list them