TORY plans to fine people for missing hospital appointments have been branded unworkable by a patients group.
Miles Briggs, Conservative MSP, said people should be hit with a financial penalty if they don’t turn up to cut down missed appointments.
The Tories asked the Scottish Government how many missed outpatients appointments there had been across Scotland.
Shona Robison health secretary said the figure for the last year was 179,917.
Mr Briggs, said repeat offenders should be hit in the pocket.
He said: “This is clearly a massive strain on the NHS at a time when it can least afford it.
“Health boards should be given the ability to explore the idea of fining patients who repeatedly fail to turn up without any decent reason.
“That would ease the financial pressure this issue puts on hospitals, and deter those serial non-attenders from treating the health service with such contempt.”
In Greater Glasgow the Health Board told the Evening Times the total number of missed NHS appointments, including outpatients was 178,161.
It said it had an impact on services but would not comment on the suggestion of fines.
The Scotland’s Patients Association said there were better ways of spending cash to investigate no-shows.
Dr Jean Turner, chief executive, said: “I don’t think that would work. There are lots of reasons why people fail to keep appointments.
“Many are in poorer areas and transport can be an issue.
“If you are going to fine people then you have to collect it and that has costs money to run.
“It would be better to look into the reasons why people don’t keep appointments that would be a better way of spending money.
There are, I think, more good reasons for not keeping appointments than bad.”
A spokeswoman for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “Missed outpatient appointments are a major concern for the NHS and it is not only a waste of vital staff resources but also means many other patients are missing specialist treatment and healthcare advice.
“In NHSGGC in the 12 months to March 2016, 178,161 patients failed to attend an appointment.
“Missed appointments do have a knock-on effect on waiting times and to help tackle this problem we undertake a range of actions to remind patients to attend including an automated reminder system.”
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