Hospital Outpatient Activity 2019-20

In 2019-20 there were 124.9 million outpatient appointments, of which 96.4 million were attended by patients. Between 2009-10 and 2019-20 outpatient appointments have increased (from 84.2 million to 124.9 million) by 48% and attended appointments have increased (from 67.4 million to  96.4 million) by 43%.

Attendances, whether first or subsequent, as a proportion of total appointments, have decreased over the period from 80.1% in 2009-10 to 77.2% in 2019-20.

The number of appointments where the patient 'Did not attend' continues to be lower than those for 'Patient Cancellations' or 'Hospital Cancellations'.

Between 2009-10 and 2019-20 'Did not attends' have increased by just over 1 million (15%)  whereas Patient Cancellations and Hospital Cancellations have increased by much larger amounts and percentages (4.5 million or 93% for Patient Cancellations and 6.0 million or 124% for Hospital Cancellations) in the same period.

Hospital Cancellations increased by 1.2 million or 12% between 2018-19 and 2019-20.

The proportion of attended appointments has decreased over the period from 80.1% in 2009-10 to 77.2% in 2019-20.

The proportion of appointments which were not attended by the patient without notice (Did not attend) declined from 7.9% in 2009-10 to 6.2% in 2019-20.

During the same period the proportion of appointments that were cancelled by either the hospital or the patient increased from 11.5% to 16.2%.