NHS paying huge price for missed appointments

One in 10 health appointments were missed last year, costing the NHS millions of pounds and delaying treatment for others, figures suggest.

Patients missed 5.5 million hospital appointments, according to the Department of Health, and ministers want new ways to tackle the problem. Newham University Hospital has started a pilot where diabetes patients who do not need a physical examination are seen via Skype. The Health Minister, Simon Burns, said: "It's important people realise that not turning up means other patients' care might be delayed and doctors' and nurses' time could be wasted, costing taxpayers money."