This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33375976

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
NHS to reveal cost of missed appointments to patients NHS to reveal cost of missed appointments to patients
(about 4 hours later)
Patients who miss appointments will be told how much they have cost the NHS, the health secretary has revealed.Patients who miss appointments will be told how much they have cost the NHS, the health secretary has revealed.
Jeremy Hunt also said he did not have a problem with the idea of charging patients for missing GP appointments. Overall, missed GP and hospital appointments cost the health service in England nearly £1bn a year.
People would have to "take personal responsibility" for the way they use NHS resources if a "fantastic" service was to continue, Mr Hunt said. Jeremy Hunt said he sympathised with the idea of charging patients for missing GP appointments, although there are no plans for this to happen.
The NHS estimates more than 12 million doctors' appointments are missed every year - costing the taxpayer £160m. But Mr Hunt did say people would have to "take personal responsibility" if the "fantastic" NHS was to continue.
Earlier this week, the government announced plans to display the cost of prescription medicines to taxpayers on packets. In a measure announced in a speech on Wednesday, Mr Hunt said he planned to display the cost of prescription medicines on packets.
The figure and the words "funded by the UK taxpayer" will be added to all packs costing more than £20 in England.The figure and the words "funded by the UK taxpayer" will be added to all packs costing more than £20 in England.
The move is part of efforts to reduce the £300m bill for "wasted" medication, which is prescribed but not used.The move is part of efforts to reduce the £300m bill for "wasted" medication, which is prescribed but not used.
In the same speech, he said missed GP appointments cost the taxpayer £162m and missed hospital appointments cost £750m.
'Square the circle''Square the circle'
Mr Hunt told Question Time NHS resources were stretched already, adding there would be more than one million extra over-70s by the end of the current Parliament. Mr Hunt told the Question Time programme that NHS resources were stretched already, adding there would be more than one million extra people aged over 70 by the end of the current parliament.
"If we're going to square the circle and have a fantastic NHS, despite all those pressures, then we have to take personal responsibility for the way that we use NHS resources," he said."If we're going to square the circle and have a fantastic NHS, despite all those pressures, then we have to take personal responsibility for the way that we use NHS resources," he said.
Mr Hunt told the audience in Essex he did not have a "problem in principle with the idea of charging people for missed appointments."Mr Hunt told the audience in Essex he did not have a "problem in principle with the idea of charging people for missed appointments."
But he added: "I think in practical terms it could be difficult to do but I've taken a step towards that this week by announcing that when people do miss an appointment they will be told how much that's cost the NHS." But he added: "I think in practical terms it could be difficult to do, but I've taken a step towards that this week by announcing that when people do miss an appointment they will be told how much that's cost the NHS."
Labour's Jeremy Corbyn, who is standing to succeed Ed Miliband as party leader, accused pharmaceutical companies of holding the NHS "to ransom" by charging high prices for medicines.Labour's Jeremy Corbyn, who is standing to succeed Ed Miliband as party leader, accused pharmaceutical companies of holding the NHS "to ransom" by charging high prices for medicines.
On charges for missed appointments, he added: "I don't think it would be a very good idea. I think it would be very hard to collect it. On the idea of charging for missed appointments, My Corbyn added: "I don't think it would be a very good idea. I think it would be very hard to collect it.
"There are lots of reasons people miss appointments - some because they are lazy and can't be bothered, sometimes because they couldn't get there, all kinds of things.""There are lots of reasons people miss appointments - some because they are lazy and can't be bothered, sometimes because they couldn't get there, all kinds of things."