Whittington Health warns patients to cancel appointments 24 hours early to avoid wasting £130 slots and block others.

Whittington Health NHS Trust is urging patients to notify them at least 24 hours in advance if they can't attend appointments, after 63,983 were missed in the 2024-25 financial year. Each missed appointment costs about £130—equivalent to the salary of over 200 newly registered nurses—and blocks access for others on the waiting list. The trust emphasizes that calling ahead allows slots to be reassigned, especially amid rising demand and low flu vaccination rates in North London. All appointment letters include a contact number for cancellations, and officials encourage communication to improve care access.