A cardiologist described to Gillie what her Augusts used to look like, before she came across to MPM. She'd return from leave to a diary that appeared full and wasn't. Three afternoons carried a scatter of last-minute cancellations, and each gap simply sat there until the day ended.

Nobody was at fault. Patients cancelled politely, with a day's notice, and the slots went quietly unfilled because catching them wasn't anybody's job. By the end of the month that added up to the better part of a lost clinic day.

The fix wasn't more patients. It was a short routine that catches the gap the moment it appears and offers it to someone already waiting. Her PA runs it now, and she doesn't think about it.

Why empty slots cost more than you think

A cancelled slot isn't neutral. The room, the time and often the staff are all still paid for, so an unfilled hour is pure loss rather than a saving. And in a private clinic there is nearly always someone who would happily take an earlier date, if only they were asked.

The confirm-and-backfill routine

The clinics that don't bleed slots run two small habits.

Confirm the day before. A short reminder the afternoon before turns most "I forgot" no-shows into either an attendance or an early cancellation you can still do something with.

Backfill straight away. The moment a slot drops, it goes to the next suitable person on a short waiting list, by a quick call or message, before it has a chance to go cold.

Hand it to your medical PA

If your MPM PA isn't already running this for you, it takes one conversation to set up. Give them a simple rule for who to offer a freed slot to first, and the diary starts backfilling itself while you're in with a patient.

Between issues

That's this month's one idea. If empty slots are a running frustration in your clinic, reply and tell me how yours tend to happen. It might be the thing I write about next.