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Hospital No-Shows a Costly Exercise
Media Release
Hospital No-Shows a Costly Exercise
Hauraki-Thames/Coromandel residents not
keeping their hospital appointments between July 2011 and
February 2012 have cost Waikato District Health Board nearly
half a million dollars.
Between July 2011 and February 2012, Hauraki/Thames-Coromandel residents not showing up to their hospital appointments, cost the organisation and the taxpayer a huge $441,430.
General medical proved to be the nature of appointment with the highest number of people not attending.
“Thames residents are among those who don’t keep appointments so we can’t draw the conclusion that transport is necessarily the issue,” said Hauraki/Thames-Coromandel Transport Coordination Service transport coordinator Lyn Thompson.
The Hauraki/Thames-Coromandel Transport Coordination Service was established to organise transport for people to and from Thames and Waikato hospitals in the hope it would reduce the number of people who did not attend their appointments.
The service also provides information on transport to other medical and social activities and is partially in answer to the transport coordination trial being undertaken in the region.
The pilot started in July 2011 to find out what the barriers are to keeping appointments with Thames and Waikato hospitals.
“The number of people in this region not keeping their appointments and not telling hospital staff they are unable to attend is a concern,” said Thames Hospital service manager Jacquie Mitchell.
“From January to March 2012 we have seen a slight reduction in the number of people not attending appointments, but we don’t know whether that is as a result of the transport coordination service or whether there are other factors affecting this.”
Ms Mitchell said it is really important that if you or someone you know is unable to keep an appointment, you let hospital staff know, preferably the day before, so they can allocate that time to someone else.
Surveys have been sent to local schools and service clubs asking people what the barriers are to keeping a hospital appointment or keeping an appointment for their child or children in their care.
“While paediatric appointments no-shows are fewer than other specialist appointments, the number of children not being seen by a specialist is again, a real concern,” said Ms Mitchell.
“This may cause serious developmental delays later on for these children. The trial is going to be extended for a further three months after 30 June, and Wintec will be providing an analysis of the data collected throughout the year.”
Many of the transport operators got together recently to share information with the operational group and other transport providers.
“It was an opportunity to show them our appreciation for the service they provide getting people to and from hospital appointments,” said Ms Mitchell.
“Funding is not given to all transport providers within the district and this makes it difficult for some providers to run their operations effectively.”
Call 0800 934 287 between 10am-2pm Monday to Friday, for transport arrangements to and from Thames and Waikato hospitals and for other medical and/or social appointments.
Transport will be arranged for you, or information about transport will be provided.
ENDS
Waikato District Health Board
Healthy People. Excellent Care
Waikato District Health Board (DHB) employs over 6500 people and plans, funds and provides hospital and health services to more than 391,770 people in a region covering eight per cent of New Zealand.
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