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Rishi Sunak plans to fine anyone who misses NHS appointment
According to the NHS, around 15 million appointments are missed each year in the UK
The government is planning to fine people who miss NHS appointments in a bid to save money for the health care service.
Rishi Sunak, who was appointed as the UK’s latest prime minister earlier this week, has already reiterated his plans to charge patients £10 for each appointment they miss.
The former chancellor first proposed the policy during his failed Conservative party leadership race against Liz Truss in August.
Under the proposal, people would not be fined for the first missed appointment, but would for any subsequent incidents.
Number 10 / Flickr
According to the NHS, around 15 million appointments are missed every year in the UK; this accounts for around 5% of the 307m scheduled appointments with GPs, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.
When asked on Wednesday if the new prime minister intended to press on with the policy, a No. 10 spokesperson said Sunak ‘stands by the sentiment’, adding that he is ‘definitely committed to ensuring that we get the best value for taxpayers and the best value for money out of the NHS’.
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The spokesperson also said that before the scheme could become official, the PM would discuss it first with his newly appointed Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Steve Barclay, MP.
However, Sunak’s proposal has been met with a wave of backlash by a number of medical professionals, who say the fines would ‘inevitably impact the poorest’ in society.
Number 10 / Flickr
The British Medical Association (BMA) also said it fears the policy could ‘discourage’ those who are sick from booking any future appointments.
Philip Banfield, the chairman of the BMA, believes it would ‘ultimately threaten the fundamental principle that the NHS delivers free care at the point of need for all’.
He said: “The BMA has always stood firmly against the idea of charging patients for missed appointments.
“While it is frustrating when patients do not attend, the reasons why this happens should be investigated rather than simply resorting to punishing them.”