Letter: Take a deposit

I read the letter from Richard Morris (February 24) regarding his concerns of people not turning up for appointments and which approach to take.

We are a small independent practice and have the same problem.

It always seems to be the new patients who do not bother to call or turn up on the day, even after the appointment has been confirmed with them the day before.

We have started to take a deposit from them depending on the type of appointment that they are booked for.

Those who have the intention of coming on the day are quite happy to leave a deposit, but those who are not happy to leave any money (even though they will get it back if they turn up) have no intention of coming, or they will see on the day whether the weather is nice, they do not have a hangover, or they go somewhere else.

For the already existing patients we put an asterisk next to their name on their computer record so when they call to book an appointment they are told that if they do not turn up they will be sent a bill or that they need to come with a deposit within the next 24 hours so that the appointment, that we initially book, can be kept.

My advice to you is to go for it. It will guarantee you 'patients' and no 'time- wasters'.

If more practices would do this, it would become the norm and people would not be offended when being asked for a deposit.

Amaia Sames
Romford, Essex