A missed specialist appointment

Setting: A general practice follow-up

The patient missed an outpatient appointment; the referral office can request another appointment once the patient agrees.

Task

Explore the concern behind this opening: You probably think I couldn't be bothered to go, but that isn't true.
Clarify the patient perspective using an appropriate follow-up, such as: Could you talk me through what happened around the appointment you missed?
Explain the supplied information and its limits in manageable sections.
Explore practical barriers and agree a workable next step from the supplied options.
Check the patient understanding and identify any unresolved question.

A missed specialist appointment supplied information

The patient missed an outpatient appointment; the referral office can request another appointment once the patient agrees.
The record says the appointment was not attended. It does not explain why. With your permission, we can correct your contact information and tell the referral office what happened.
A request for another appointment is not a confirmed booking, and I cannot promise the clinic will offer a particular date.
We can record your preferred telephone contact after checking it with you. The referral office will be asked to discuss how to send the appointment details.
Use the referral-office number on the card if you have not received an update within the fictional follow-up interval of one week.

Fictional scenario information supplied for exam communication practice only; not medical guidance for real patients.