GP surgeries could soon be using AI to cut number of ‘no-show’ appointments by a third

GP surgeries could soon benefit from artificial intelligence (AI) software that cuts the toll of appointment ‘no-shows’ by a third.

Every month, more than a million people do not turn up to their GP appointments.

In 2022, then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak proposed a £10 fine for missing appointments but was forced to backtrack after the scheme was criticised by GPs.

Now an AI system, piloted at a Norfolk GP practice, could be rolled out to tackle the issue.

An AI system, piloted at a Norfolk GP practice, could be rolled out to tackle the issue (Stock image)

The technology, called SystmOne DNA, analyses patient records and identifies those with a history of missing appointments.

It then automatically sends out a text reminding the patient about the appointment at 5pm the day before the scheduled visit.

Karen Bell, surgery manager at Norwich’s Trinity and Bowthorpe GP practice, which has 11,000 patients, said AI has brought no-shows down by 30 per cent.

‘This equates to hundreds of appointments since the start of the pilot,’ she added.