MISSED hospital appointments in Bury are costing about £170,000 each year.
Cash-strapped health bosses say this leaves them short of money and puts pressure on waiting lists.
In 1996-97 some 17,500 people did not show up for their appointments and a number missed operations. Mr John Bradley, chairman of Bury Health Care NHS Trust, said: "Because we offer a 'free' service, it is taken for granted. It's all right for people to change their minds but they must let us know with a simple telephone call, because a missed appointment costs us money."
In the latest hospital league tables, Bury has a higher-than-average rate of so-called DNAs (do not attends), with twelve per cent of people not turning up for their appointments.
Mr Bradley added: "With services under pressure this is a financial waste as well as a lost opportunity to shorten waiting lists."
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