PATIENTS who repeatedly miss GP appointments - costing the NHS millions of pounds a year - could be struck off by their doctors.
A survey today reveals that 10 million appointments are being missed each year in Britain - at an estimated cost of £184m to the health service.
Throughout Greater Manchester and the north west, 1.3 million appointments are missed, wasting £23m.
But patients who repeatedly fail to show up could pay the price.
The survey reveals that more than seven out of 10 GPs would consider blacklisting the worst offenders.
In the north west, 74 per cent of doctors said they would think about the move, compared to 71 per cent nationally.
Sixty-four per cent of GPs in the region think most people fail to keep appointments because they feel better and choose not to attend.
Problem
Almost all say the problem wastes time, money and resources; 85 per cent say it increases waiting times for other patients; and nearly 90 per cent say it impacts on care targets.
According to today's research, from health education charity Developing Patient Partnerships and the Institute of Healthcare Management, 55 per cent of north west surgeries would also support charging patients less than £10 for missing appointments.
And 60 per cent believe public awareness campaigns can help to tackle the problem.
DPP described the national number of missed appointments as "disappointing".
A spokesman said: "We want to see a reduction in the number of missed appointments and avoid patients being struck off their surgery list."
The spokesman for the British Medical Association in Manchester, Dr Kailash Chand, said both GPs and patients had a responsibility to improve the situation, but blacklisting people was not the answer.
'Unfortunate'
He said: "It's very unfortunate that patients are still not realising how much money is being wasted, but I'm not of the view that you've got to start punishing people.
"We've got to devise something to get patients on board and get them to understand why missing appointments costs the NHS so much money.
"Raising awareness is very important, but there are responsibilities on the part of GPs as well, such as making sure that people can get through on the telephone. Why not have a separate line for cancellations?"
A Department of Health spokesman said surgeries have the right to strike off patients and "perpetually not turning up for appointments" would be a legitimate reason.
Dr Tim Riley, chairman of the association representing Greater Manchester's Primary Care Trusts, which fund GP services, declined to comment.
Should no-show patients be blacklisted to help solve the problem? Have your say.
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I don't think patients should be struck off the list, as I think this would just propogate the same kind of problems the dentists are facing. But there should definitely be a charge system introduced for failed appointments. I am extremely tired of taking time out of work to attend a doctor's appointment only to find that I end up waiting up to an hour after my appointment should have taken place because someone or several people have not bothered to turn up. It not only happens with doctor's appointments but also nurse's and midwives appointments. This is something that has gone on for years at my surgery and made me seriously think about going elsewhere, if I didn't know I would not get into another surgery due to waiting lists.
Perhaps these people who continue to show for appointments should be given the football card system. After the first missed appointment a yellow card is issued as a warning and after a second failed appointment a red card and a fine.
An appointment costs nothing with NHS and as such is treated that way, which is all wrong.
Patients with appointments who do not wish to turn up should give 24 hours notice that they will not be attending. Reason does not matter.
If they do not cancel the appointment then they should be fined, maybe 10 pounds.
If they dont pay the fine then they should not be given another appointment until they do. Its a simple system that would save the doctors and NHS money and at the same time let the people know how lucky they are to be able to call on such a free service. It would also teach them the meaning of responsibility.
I agree J Garforth, I am sick of being kept waiting well past my appointment time, its a disgrace, i remember once i turned up 5 mins late for appointment due to there being a crash on the main road near-by and they told me i had missed it, im sorry but i thought this was really out of order there is no way that if i had been there on time i would have already been shouted in within that 5 mins they were probably running behind and thought they could do with losing a few patients so they could get home on time!