THE GP surgery for Malmesbury has revealed that more than 450 of its appointments were missed in October because patients did not turn up.

Malmesbury Primary Care Centre, located in Priory Way, Burton Hill, said on social media that 463 appointments were missed last month due to patients failing to attend.

In August, this figure was 290, while in July, it was 240. In June, meanwhile, the figure was 169.

Posting on social media on Tuesday, November 5, a spokesperson for the GP practice said that October was the busiest month of the year to date.

GPs offered 4,195 appointments, while another 3,391 appointments were offered with the nurse, healthcare assistant and specialist practitioner team.

Furthermore, the clinical pharmacy team offered 537 appointments.

In total, the practice’s reception team answered 8,079 calls.

When it came to cancellations, 452 patients rang the surgery’s cancellation line, with the centre saying that this freed up appointments for other people.

In the minutes of a meeting of the surgery’s Patient Participation Group in early October, it was revealed that the practice has about 300 unattended appointments every month.

In the social media post, the spokesperson said that the practice cancellation line “makes it quicker and easier than ever to cancel appointments you cannot attend”.

“These can then be offered to others who need them,” they added.

Roz Savage, MP for the South Cotswolds, said: “I am very concerned about the number of missed appointments.

“It is something that needs to be urgently addressed as part of an overall strategy for improving the efficiency in the NHS. Our GPs are under immense pressure as it is and this exacerbates the situation.

“If someone doesn’t turn up at the allotted time, without giving advance notice, not only do they not get seen but that time could have been used to help another patient.”

Malmesbury Primary Care Centre was unable to provide a comment before the Standard went to press.

Wiltshire councillor for Malmesbury, Gavin Grant, said: “It’s sometimes challenging to get health care appointments. So, not turning up when you have one frustrates our hard pressed doctors, nurses and physiotherapists.

“It may block someone else from getting to see them.

“Of course, other family or work emergencies happen. But then take a moment to let our health centre team know you can’t make it so someone else can be seen instead.”