Hospital Outpatient Activity 2021-22

In 2021-22 there were 122.3 million outpatient appointments, of which 95.5 million were attended by patients.

This represents a 20% increase in appointments and a 22% increase in attendances from 2020-21.

This reflects a return to near pre-pandemic levels of activity. 

Attendances, whether first or subsequent, as a proportion of total appointments, have decreased over the period from 79.8% in 2011-12 to 78.1% in 2021-22.

Between 2020-21 and 2021-22, 'DId not attends' increased by just over 2 million (38.8%) and 'Patient Cancellations' increased by just over 2 million (48.4%). However, 'Hospital Cancellations' decreased by just over 1 million (8%).

By comparison, between 2019-20 and 2020-21, 'Did not attends' fell by just over 2 million (26.7 per cent), 'Patient Cancellations' fell by 4.8 million (51.0 per cent) and 'Hospital Cancellations' increased by 1.8 million (16.2 per cent). 

The differences between 2019-20 to 2020-21 and 2020-21 to 2021-22 reflect a return towards ratios between 'Did not attends', 'Patient Cancellations' and 'Hospital Cancellations' seen before the COVID19 pandemic.

The proportion of attended appointments has decreased over the period from 79.8% in 2011-12 to 78.1% in 2021-22.

The proportion of appointments which were not attended by the patient without notice (Did not attend) declined from 7.5% in 2011-12 to 6.4% in 2021-22.

During the same period the proportion of appointments that were cancelled by either the patient or the hospital increased from 12.4% to 15.1% per cent.