Failed to Attend & Short Notice Cancellation Policy

It is inevitable that sometimes you may need to cancel or rearrange your dental appointments. We ask all patients to give at least 24 hours’ notice when cancelling an appointment, so we have the opportunity to offer it to someone else - although we do understand that during an emergency this is not always possible. Non-attendance and cancellations at short notice without a valid reason deprive other patients of our services.

The impact of missed appointments

• 143 hours (approximately 18 days) lost to patients not attending in 2023
• 298 hours (approximately 37 days) affected by cancellations within 24 hours in 2023
• 123 hours (approximately 15 days) lost to patients not attending in 2024
• 266 hours (approximately 33 days) affected by cancellations within 24 hours in 2024

Cancellations within 24 hours are very difficult to fill. These appointments could have been used by other patients.

NHS patients

Due to demand, if you fail to attend a new NHS appointment, the practice will not be able to offer any further NHS appointments. This also applies to new NHS patients missing their NHS treatment appointments.

For regular patients, if you do not attend or cancel at short notice two appointments, you will no longer be offered further NHS appointments. Appointments will be offered on a private basis and a minimum deposit will be required before booking the appointment (depending on the treatment).

Private patients

If a private patient fails to attend, we reserve the right to charge for the appointment time missed - see the missed appointment charge on our fees page.

Late arrival

All of the above also applies to patients who arrive late for their treatment when we do not have time to see them to complete what is required.

How to cancel

Patients who wish to cancel a dental appointment must do so a minimum of 24 hours in advance of their scheduled appointment. This can be done by telephone on 01902 675 801 or by email at [email protected].