Can outpatient non-attendance be predicted from the referral letter? An audit of default at neurology clinics.

Data obtained from new patient referral letters to regional and peripheral neurology clinics were studied prospectively over a 6-month period in an attempt to determine factors predicting non-attendance. Attendance at peripheral clinics was significantly better, confirming their value. At regional clinics, factors associated with non-attendance were male sex, patient age less than 50 years, urban home address, referral from Accident and Emergency Departments, symptom duration less than 12 months, and wait for appointment more than 2 months. Of these, referral source and waiting time were identified as factors which could be modified, confirming that this analysis of referral letters was a useful exercise.