Outpatient appointments. Feeling a bit peaky.

The number of people waiting for outpatient appointments always rises to a peak in September. Differences between the pattern of GP referrals and the availability of consultant appointments partly explain fluctuations. The day of the week on which consultant clinics are held is an important issue in forecasting. The number of working days in a year ranges from 251 to 255 and this partly explains differences in NHS productivity from year to year.