£1bn cost of hospital no-shows

PATIENTS not turning up to hospital appointments are costing the NHS nearly £1billion a year, figures show as the health service tries to get to grips with the problem.

A staggering 7.8million appointments were missed across England in the last financial year – one in every 15. Each ‘no-show’ costs at least £120, according to an NHS estimate that is five years old.

Hospital staff are being asked to redouble their efforts to tackle the problem, for example by phoning or sending text message reminders before appointments.

It comes as the number of those waiting for NHS care continues to rise, recently topping seven million.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay said: ‘This new drive will reduce no-shows, fill last-minute cancellations and make it easier for patients to be assessed from the comfort of their home, where that is best for them.

‘Every appointment freed up could be used for other patients, especially those who have been waiting the longest, helping us continue to make progress to reduce the longest waits.’

Research shows that those from poorer backgrounds are more likely to miss appointments.