Why do patients DNA?
We recently commissioned one of the biggest surveys to-date to better understand the reasons people fail to make their appointments, and how it compares across other regions nationwide.
It's easy to view DNAs as numbers and statistics
The reality is far more complex and human. Behind each DNA is a person - each with a unique set of circumstances and challenges around why they fail to make their appointment.
DNA Complexities Survey Results
Integrated Care Systems in UK
- Top three national answers
- 1 Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership
- 2 North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System
- 3 South Yorkshire Integrated Care System
- 4 West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership
- 5 Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System
- 6 Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership
- 7 Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System
- 8 Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care System
- 9 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care System
- 10 Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care System
- 11 Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System
- 12 Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care System
- 13 Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care System
- 14 Better Lives Lincolnshire
- 15 Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System
- 16 Black Country Integrated Care System
- 17 Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care System
- 18 Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care System
- 19 Joined Up Care Derbyshire
- 20 Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care System
- 21 Northamptonshire Integrated Care System
- 22 Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care System
- 23 Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care System
- 24 Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care System
- 25 North Central London Integrated Care System
- 26 North East London Health and Care Partnership
- 27 North West London Integrated Care System
- 28 South East London Integrated Care System
- 29 South West London Integrated Care System
- 30 Frimley Health and Care
- 31 Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care System
- 32 Kent and Medway Integrated Care System
- 33 Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care System
- 34 Surrey Heartlands Health and Care Partnership
- 35 Sussex Integrated Care System
- 36 Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Together
- 37 Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Integrated Care System
- 38 Healthier Together: BNSSG Integrated Care System
- 39 One Devon
- 40 Our Dorset Health and Care System
- 41 One Gloucestershire
- 42 Somerset Integrated Care System
- 43 Hywel Dda University Health Board
- 44 Powys Teaching Health Board
- 45 Swansea Bay University Health Board
- 46 Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
- 47 Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
- 48 Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
- 49 Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
- 50 NHS Grampian
- 51 NHS Tayside
- 52 NHS Forth Valley
- 53 NHS Fife
- 54 NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
- 55 NHS Lanarkshire
- 56 NHS Lothian
- 57 NHS Borders
- 58 NHS Dumfries & Galloway
- 59 NHS Ayrshire & Arran
- 60 NHS Highland
- 61 NHS Western Isles
- 62 NHS Orkney
- 63 NHS Shetland
- 64 Western Health and Social Care Trust
- 65 Northern Health and Social Care Trust
- 66 Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
- 67 South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust
- 68 Southern Health and Social Care Trust
How big is the DNA problem?
Number of missed NHS appointments 2024
Cost to the NHS
What if we could predict and intervene with DNAs to prevent them happening?
Identify
Identify and predict patients who are most likely to miss their appointment.
Intervene
Proactively engage and intervene with patients identified as most likely to DNA.
Optimise
Dynamically manage capacity to fill last-minute slots and keep clinics running smoothly.
#waitlistwatch
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DNA Complexities Survey?
A survey of patients who have missed at least one hospital appointment in the last two years, and are therefore considered a DNA by the NHS (A Did Not Attend Patient).
What is the Sample Size?
This survey samples more than 5,000 DNA patients across the UK plus an additional 1000 within London.
How were participants identified?
To answer your question on how these people were identified, we conducted this research with Censuswide, and commissioned them to survey more than 5,000 UK adults (aged 18+) who have missed at least one NHS hospital appointment in the last two years.
When was the survey conducted?
What was the research methodology?
The research was conducted by Censuswide with 5003 UK adults (Aged 18+) who have missed at least one NHS hospital appointment in the last two years.
Censuswide abide by and employ members of the Market Research Society which is based on the ESOMAR principles. Censuswide are also members of the British Polling Council.
Can I see the full data in a report?
We're compiling the raw data into a full report which will be made available soon. Please register your interest.
Unpacking the DNA Problem
Explore the ever-present problem of DNAs in the NHS and how new, exciting technology is the missing piece to solving the puzzle.