Why patients do not turn up — and what helps
UniDent editorial team · July 28, 2026
Medically reviewed by: Dr Aleks Aleksiev · reviewed July 28, 2026
A no-show is rarely disrespect. More often it is uncertainty — they do not remember the exact time, are not sure where to go, or do not understand why the visit matters. Each of the three is solved by one message.
What actually happens
Days pass between arranging the appointment and the appointment itself. To you it is a case towards your quota. To them it is something they agreed to on the phone before life carried on. The longer the gap, the higher the chance they do not arrive.
The three things that reduce it
- 1A confirmation the day before — short, specific, with time and place.
- 2A real address: building, floor, room. "At the faculty" is not an address.
- 3One sentence on why this visit matters to them specifically.
Ask about their schedule before arranging
Many no-shows are created at the moment of booking. If they work until five and the appointment is at two, they will say yes on the phone and drop out later. Better to hear it at the start.
When they still do not come
Call once, calmly. Some genuinely forgot and will rebook. If there is no answer, note it and move on — chasing someone who does not reply is not worth it when others are waiting for the slot.
What to do next
- Ask about working hours before offering a time.
- Send a confirmation the day before, with the exact address.
- Explain in one sentence why the visit matters.
Sources
- Practical experience in teaching clinics (summarised)