GPs drop advance bookings

GP practices across the city are getting rid of appointments booked more than a fortnight in advance.

Surgeries are beginning to limit the options amid concern people are forgetting to show up if it is planned too far ahead.

Did Not Attends cause huge problems, both financially and for planning reasons. They are known to cost NHS Lothian millions each year, both in hospitals and GP practices.

One city practice to adopt this approach is the Baronscourt facility in Northfield.

A statement for it read: "We will be limiting advanced bookings of appointments to two weeks because many of the appointments when patients fail to attend have been booked three to four weeks in advance."