BURNLEY hospitals are losing £1.3million a year because outpatients are simply not turning up for appointments.

More than 27,000 people did not attend hospital clinics in the last year, leaving consultants and nursing staff waiting while waiting lists rose.

The missing patients accounted for one in eight of all appointments and cost the local health service £50 each in lost and wasted time.

And they had a major affect on waiting lists, preventing hospital chiefs from slashing the number of out-patients waiting for more than 13 weeks for an appointment to meet government targets.

More worryingly, say Burnley Health Trust, they increased the waiting time for patients in desperate need of care.

Now the trust has launched a campaign highlighting the problem, with posters going up in GP surgeries, hospital out-patient areas, libraries and supermarkets. In addition 10,000 pre-paid reminder cards will be handed out to all new patients, telling them "If you can't appear... let us hear! "

Trust outpatients manager Dorothy Vaughton said the initial aim was to cut the 12 per cent Did Not Attend rate by half by March.

She said: "Each month 675 new patients and 1,850 review appointments fail to attend.

"If we can cut this figure it will have a major impact on helping us to reduce waiting below 13 weeks.

"If, for whatever reason, someone cannot meet an appointment, all we ask is that they let us know in good time to allow someone else to take their place."

Mrs Vaughton said similar campaigns in the past had been successful and Burnley's non-attendance rate was below the national average.

She added: "They do have a very real impact and help those desperately in need of treatment to be seen much sooner."

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