Non-attendance at new appointments at St James's Child Guidance Clinic.

Abstract

This study aimed to examine non-attendance rates at new appointments at St James's Child Guidance Clinic. The sample consisted of all new referrals to St. James's Child Guidance Clinic in one calendar year (2004). Data was collected retrospectively from an electronic patient information system (Pinpoint), the new patient-referral logbook, referral letters, the appointment diary, and from clinical records. There were 260 new referrals to St James's Child Guidance Clinic in 2004. Out of the 260 children and adolescents granted a new appointment, 34 (13.07%) who failed to keep their appointment were identified. All patients granted an urgent appointment did attend. Non-attendance rates at new assessment in St James's Child Guidance Clinic were slightly lower than those reported in other studies. The implemented evidence-based strategies to reduce non-attendance rates could explain the relatively low non-attendance rate at new assessment.