Every missed appointment is time that could have gone to another patient waiting for care. Here's what to do if you can't make it, and what happens if an appointment is missed.
Last updated: September 2026
We have a limited number of GP and nurse appointments each day. When a patient doesn't attend, or cancels at very short notice, that slot usually can't be offered to another patient in need — including patients waiting for urgent care. This policy explains what we ask of patients, and what happens if appointments are missed repeatedly.
An appointment is recorded as a "Did Not Attend" (DNA) if:
If you cancel or reschedule with 3 hours' notice or more, this is not treated as a missed appointment — we simply ask for as much notice as you can give us, so that we have the best chance of offering the slot to someone else.
If you can no longer attend, please let us know as soon as possible by:
If you booked online, please also cancel the appointment through the online booking system where possible.
We understand that things come up, and everyone can occasionally miss an appointment. Repeated missed appointments, however, unfairly reduce access for other patients, so we operate a three-stage process within any rolling 18-month period:
Please give us as much notice as possible — ideally at least 3 hours — so we can offer the slot to another patient.
📞 (01) 840 5940 ✉️ Email ReceptionSpeak to our Practice Manager, or see our Patient Information page for other practice policies.
You'll receive a text message on the day, and it will be recorded on your chart. This is a friendly reminder — no restriction is placed on your account at this stage.
Further restrictions may apply to how you can book with us — for example, losing access to online booking (same-day appointments remain available by presenting at reception), or being asked to pay for appointments in advance. What applies depends on individual circumstances.
Your case is reviewed by our Practice Manager and a GP Partner. In more serious cases this can include a review of your continued registration with the practice — if so, we'll write to you, and make sure your care continues without interruption while you register elsewhere.
If you missed an appointment because of a genuine emergency or exceptional circumstances beyond your control, please let us know — each case is reviewed individually and this is taken into account.
We know that appointments are sometimes difficult to get to, and we try to be understanding. Our aim with this policy isn't to penalise patients — it's to make sure appointments are available to everyone who needs one, as fairly as possible.