| Reason | No. (%) of patients n = 2430 |
|---|---|
| Patient declined or missed consultation after first referral sent | 68 (2.8) |
| Symptoms resolved | 6 (8.8) |
| Patient choice | 21 (30.9) |
| Patient unavailable/missed appointment | 26 (38.2) |
| Rheumatologist declined consultation after first referral sent | 87 (3.6) |
| Consulted only for certain conditions | 23 (26.4) |
| Rheumatologist suggested alternative plan (e.g., pain clinic, another specialist) | 21 (24.1) |
| No reason provided | 19 (21.8) |
| Not accepting new patients | 10 (11.5) |