Causes of Non-Attendance at an Open-Access Endoscopy Outpatient Clinic

Abstract

We read with interest the article by Adams et al. concerning nonattendance at outpatient endoscopy clinics [1]. The results of a study we conducted in our own department may also be of interest in this connection. Due to the convenience of the service [2] [3], the majority of patients who require gastroenterological assessment in Greece are usually referred to an outpatient endoscopy department. In Greece, endoscopy services are offered by both the Greek national health-care system and by the Hellenic Social Security Institute (Idroma Koinonikon Asphaliseon, IKA). A considerable nonattendance rate, mainly involving upper gastrointestinal endoscopies, is observed in both systems. The result is that the number of endoscopies conducted in each department can vary by up to 60 % from day to day, since the nonattending patients usually do not cancel their appointments. This is frustrating for the staff and services concerned, especially since the main problem is that the demand for endoscopy appointments far exceeds the existing departments’ capacity. Long waiting lists are therefore quite usual, and there is considerable pressure for early appointments. The end result are further delays - plus, of course, increased financial costs, since the IKA is obliged to pay private health-care providers for endoscopic examinations.