Recent research conducted by Taurus Healthcare's Business Intelligence team indicates an increase in the number of people who are not turning up for their booked appointments at our Improved Access Service.

Appointments with our Nurses or Healthcare Assistants are particularly badly affected. For example, compared with April 2021, in May 2021 we saw a 100% increase in the number of patients not turning up for their Nurse appointments and a 79% increase in those not attending previously arranged Healthcare Assistant appointments.

No shows for our Improved Access GPs declined by 25% between April and May 2021, which is pleasing. However, even one no show means 15 minutes of clinical time is wasted. If we add up the total number of ‘no shows’ for Nurse, GP and Healthcare Assistant appointments for the month of May 2021, over 27 hours of clinical time were wasted (109 x 15 minute appointments). With demand on General Practice increasing, it is disheartening to see these hours go to waste.

Taurus Healthcare operates the Improved Access Service on behalf of Herefordshire General Practice. It is intended for those patients who find it difficult to see their GP or other healthcare practitioner during normal surgery hours. There are now six Improved Access Hubs across the county: Hereford, Ross-on-Wye, Kington, Bromyard, Leominster, and Ledbury. Patients can access the service by calling their GP during normal opening times and requesting ‘a Taurus Improved Access Appointment’.

For further information about the Improved Access Hubs, please visit our dedicated webpage.