Patients who fail to keep hospital appointments cost the NHS more than £600 million a year, enough to run two medium-size hospitals, data has shown.

数据显示，失约于医院的病人使国民健康保险制度组织一年花费超过600万英镑，足够建两座中等规模的医院。

Between 2007 and 2008, 6.5 million appointments were missed in the UK, with hospitals losing around £100 per patient in revenue（财政收入，税收）.

The Patients Association said missing an appointment was "unforgivable".

The Department of Health in England says initiatives（第一步，首创精神） such as text message reminders¹ are being rolled out.

But Unison² said patients were not always to blame as check-ups are often arranged months in advance and easily forgotten.

The public service trade union said primary care trusts should find ways of reminding patients of their appointments, which could include text or e-mail alerts.

Some are already doing this.

'Did Not Attend's'

Young men in their early 20s are the worst offenders³ and people aged⁴ 70 to 74 are the most conscientious⁵（认真的，本着良心的） about keeping an appointment, the figures show.

There has been a slight improvement in attendance over the last few years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

In Scotland, however, the figure is higher than in recent years.

Some clinics in the UK are now over-booking patients in anticipation⁶ of（预期） no shows.

But Karen Jennings, Unison's head of health, warned: "Hospitals who go down the route of over-booking, based on previous experience of missed appointments, must ensure that it doesn't disadvantage patients if there is a 100% turn-out."

Michael Summers, vice-chair of the Patients Association, said: "It's unforgivable really.

"It doesn't take much to lift a phone and say that you have recovered or to apologise because you will have to miss an appointment.

"We owe a responsibility to our doctors to behave properly. Missed appointments waste healthcare professionals' time and a great deal of money."

A Department of Health spokesman said successful initiatives, such as text messages to remind patients, were on the rise.

He said the choose and book, which allows patients to select a chosen time, date and place for an appointment at their own convenience, was also helping⁷ reduce the number of missed appointments.

He added: "The NHS Constitution gives patients the right to access NHS services, but patients have responsibilities too - it is important to keep appointments, or cancel within reasonable time.

"Otherwise, receiving treatment within the maximum waiting times may be compromised."