£10 For Missed Welsh NHS Appointments?

10 July 2015, 17:44 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Hospital scene

The Welsh Conservatives want to bring in a ten pound fine for anyone who keeps missing NHS hospital appointments.

They're calling those patients who do irresponsible unless they have valid reason.

Figures shared with CAPITAL by the party show more than a million people over the last three years have missed an appointment, costing the Welsh NHS 180 million pounds.

Leader of the Welsh Conservatives Andrew RT Davies says ...

"We can't go on like this, fining serial offenders will stamp out this practice that is costing the NHS valuable resources.

We are spending more than sixty million pounds a year on missed appointments which could go on frontline services "

But not everyone agrees with the idea - Dr Rebecca Payne from the Royal College of GPs says...

"We know missed appointments are a massive problem but this just isn't the answer.

People are busy and punishing them for that isn't the way forward...things that work are text and letter reminders. "

The Welsh Conservatives claim the problem of missed appointments is getting worse year after year

We've spoken to the Welsh Government and they say the idea of fining people just isn't practical.