NHS U.K. hospital no-shows cost $1 billion

LONDON, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- The almost 6 million British patients who fail to keep hospital appointments each year are costing the government about $1 billion.

The lost funds could have paid for 27,000 nurses or 8,000 doctors, reported the Sunday Telegraph. Health statistics obtained by the Telegraph show missed appointments in English hospitals rose by 13 percent last year to 5.7 million up from 5 million in 2003.

More than 11 percent of all outpatient appointments in England are "no-shows" and each costs about $180.

Labor Health Minister Liam Byrne said the problem would be helped by an electronic booking system.

The National Audit Office, the public spending watchdog, found that by the end of last year only 63 appointments had been made using the new system, although more than 200,000 have been expected.

"The roll-out of e-booking has been slower than anticipated," the NAO report said.