8 useful pointers for no-show patients

What should you do if your patient doesn’t return for their follow-up consultation or at least check in by phone?

According to the medical defence organisation Avant, you do have an ethical obligation to make reasonable attempts to contact a non-compliant patient if you’ve been advised of a clinically significant abnormal result or diagnosis.

Here are some useful strategies:

• Make two to three calls at different times of the day;
• If the patient doesn’t answer the phone or text messages, send a letter to the last known address, or a letter by person-to