Sufferers not turning as much as hospital appointments are costing the NHS practically £1 billion a yr, figures present because the well being service tries to familiarize yourself with the issue.

A staggering 7.8 million appointments have been missed throughout England within the final monetary yr – one in each 15. Every ‘no-show’ prices at the least £120, in response to an NHS estimate that’s 5 years previous.

Hospital employees are being requested to redouble their efforts to sort out the issue, for instance by phoning or sending textual content message reminders earlier than appointments.

It comes because the variety of these ready for NHS care continues to rise, not too long ago topping seven million.

Well being Secretary Steve Barclay stated: ‘This new drive will scale back no-shows, fill last-minute cancellations and make it simpler for sufferers to be assessed from the consolation of their residence, the place that’s greatest for them.

‘Each appointment freed up might be used for different sufferers, particularly those that have been ready the longest, serving to us proceed to make progress to cut back the longest waits.’

Analysis exhibits that these from poorer backgrounds usually tend to miss appointments.