Hospital Outpatient Activity 2024-25

In 2024-25 there were 146.1 million outpatient appointments, of which 113.2 million were attended by patients.

This represents a 7.8% increase in appointments and a 8.2% increase in attendances from 2023-24.

Attendances, whether first or subsequent, as a proportion of total appointments, have decreased over the period from 79.9% in 2014-15 to 77.5% in 2024-25.

Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, 'DId Not Attends' (DNAs) increased by just over 123,800 (1.5%) and 'Patient Cancellations' increased by just over 1.59 million (18.0%). 'Hospital Cancellations' increased by 154,000 (1.2%).

The increase in patient cancellations reflects a return towards the rates seen before the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019-20, 7.5% of all appointments were cancelled by patients; in 2024-25 the figure was 7.1%.

At 9.2% in 2024-25, 'Hospital Cancellations' exceeded the proportions seen prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (8.7% in 2019-20), although they were down compared to 2023-24 (9.9%). DNAs, at 5.6% in 2024-25, were below pre-COVID-19 proportions (6.2% in 2019-20), and have also fallen from 2023-24 (5.9%).

In 2024-25, the London Commissioning Region had the highest number of appointments (32.5 million) and attendances (23.3 million), while the South West Commissioning Region had the lowest number of appointments (13.6 million). The East of England Commissioning Region had the lowest number of attendances (10.9 million).

However, the London Commissioning Region also had the lowest percentage of appointments that were attended in 2024-25 (71.7%), while the South West Commissioning Region had the highest (80.7%). Attendance rates for other regions are similar to those for the South West, with the North West Commissioning Region (the area with the second lowest percentage) being at 77.5%.

In 2023-24, London also had the lowest percentage of attended appointments (70.9%) while the South West had the highest (81.1%). 

There were 65.5 million attendances for females (58.3%), compared to 46.8 million for males (41.7%).

For females, the age group with greatest number of attendances was 30-34 years (5.7 million); for males it was 75-79 years (5.0 million). When maternity-related activity is excluded, the female age group with the greatest number of attendances is also 75-79 years (5.1 million).

Patients aged 60 years and over accounted for 45.2% of all attendances (50.8 million).

39.8% of attendances for females aged 20-39 years were for maternity services, defined as where the treatment specialty was either ‘Obstetrics’ or ‘Midwife Episode’.

The ‘Other’ ethnic group recorded both the highest rate of appointments (322,100), attendances (234,800)  and 'did not attend' appointments (25,000) per 100,000 population.

Rates per 100,000 population were similar for the Asian and White population for appointments (215,600 and 206,300, respectively) and attendances (160,400 and 160,800, respectively). Black patients had slightly higher rates, at 250,300 for appointments and 185,400 for attendances.

Among Asian and particularly Black patients, 'Did Not Attends' (DNAs) were more prevalent, with 14,900 and 23,200 per 100,000 population respectively compared to 10,300 for the White ethnic group.