An audit of occupational therapy outpatient appointments over a 3-year period demonstrated improved attendance for first appointments in neuropsychiatry when new referral procedures were followed. A substantial number of patients, however, continued to drop out of therapy. The results are discussed in relation to findings of other studies. Speed of referral and personal contact were found to be important factors in reducing non-attendance. Further changes are proposed in an attempt to reduce the number of patients dropping out of therapy, illustrating how audit is a continuous process.
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