What happens if I miss my appointment?

What happens if you miss your appointment?

If you miss your appointment without cancelling, it will be recorded as a no-show against your Abby Health account. This does not prevent you from rebooking, but repeated no-shows may result in limited access to certain appointment types. You can rebook at any time through the app. If a genuine emergency caused you to miss your appointment, contact our support team.

What is a no-show, and how is it different from a late cancellation?

These two terms mean different things within the Abby Health system:

• A no-show is recorded when your appointment time passes and you neither joined the consultation nor cancelled beforehand.
• A late cancellation is recorded when you cancel less than one hour before your scheduled appointment time.

Both are noted on your account. The distinction matters because late cancellations show intent to notify — which is appreciated even when it is close to the appointment time. To cancel or reschedule before this point, see rescheduling or cancelling an appointment.

What are the consequences of repeated no-shows?

Abby Health clinicians keep their schedules open for patients who need care. When appointments are missed without notice, that time cannot be offered to other patients. For this reason:

• Multiple late cancellations may result in limited access to certain appointment types.
• More than 3 no-shows may result in booking restrictions being applied to your account.

If restrictions have been applied and you believe the circumstances were exceptional, contact the Abby Health support team to discuss your account. Details on how to reach us are in the how to contact the Abby support team article.

What if I missed my appointment due to a technical problem?

Technical issues — poor connectivity, app errors, device problems — are a recognised cause of missed consultations. If a technical fault prevented you from joining, this is not treated the same as a deliberate no-show. Contact the Abby Health support team as soon as possible after the appointment and explain what happened. Our team can review the circumstances and, where appropriate, remove the no-show record from your account.

To reduce the risk of technical problems, test your setup before the appointment using the video call troubleshooting guide.

How do I rebook after a missed appointment?

Rebooking is straightforward. Open the Abby Health app, tap Book an Appointment, and follow the usual process. If you missed a consultation about an ongoing health concern, you may want to request the same clinician so you do not need to repeat your history. Abby AI, our medical decision-support tool, will surface your previous consultation notes to assist continuity regardless of which clinician you see.

For a full guide to booking, see how to book a telehealth appointment.

Should I cancel even if it is close to my appointment time?

Yes, always cancel — even if it is within the hour. A late cancellation is always preferable to a no-show. It signals to the system that you are no longer attending, which gives the clinician a chance to attend to another patient in the queue. To cancel, go to Appointments in the app, select the booking, and tap Cancel.

The rescheduling and cancellation guide has the full step-by-step process.

What if my health concern is urgent and I need to be seen quickly?

If your symptoms are severe or worsening, call 000 or go to the nearest emergency department. For concerns that need prompt attention but are not emergencies, Healthdirect runs a 24-hour nurse helpline funded by the Australian Government, and Abby Health's after-hours and weekend telehealth service operates 7 days a week, with same-day appointments typically available. Medicare-funded telehealth eligibility is set out by MBS Online.

How Abby can help

Abby Health is an online-first clinic built around continuity of care. Missing one appointment does not end your care journey — it is easy to rebook, and your history is preserved for the next consultation. Abby appointments are bulk billed for eligible patients with a valid Medicare card. Rebook your appointment at abbyhealth.app.