Almost 1,000 missed doctors' appointments in July and August

944 appointments were missed

Close to 1,000 appointments at GP surgeries around the Island were missed during July and August.

The problem of people not attending appointments remains a serious issue, particularly at a time when surgeries are under pressure and waiting times to get an appointment are often long.

A total of 944 appointments were missed during the two months under review. 

They are referred to as 'Did Not Attends' and in all cases mean that a precious slot to see a doctor that could have been filled by somebody else is wasted.

As an example there were 146 missed appointments in July alone at the Snaefell surgery - representing 14.7 per cent of the appointments booked.

(Figures for July)

Other surgeries were close behind with the Southern, Peel and the Laxey and Onchan combined surgeries recording over 100 no shows each in one of the two months.

The surgery with the lowest percentage of missed appointments was the Palatine practice in Douglas.

Looking at the period April to August the Snaefell Surgery topped the table of no shows with 7.9 per cent.

(Figures for August)

Manx Care is urging people to cancel appointments they are unable to attend.