Missed hospital appointments costing millions

People not turning up to appointments at Noble's Hospital are costing the Island's health service three-million-pounds a year.

On average 15,000 appointments are missed at a cost of £200 each.

Chief Nurse Bev Critchlow says while some of the blame lies with the patients, the hospital must also take responsibility for issuing dates too far in advance and sometimes not getting letters out on time.

They're trying things like text reminders in some departments to address the problem.

Mrs Cricthlow also says it can be difficult for people to contact the hospital to let them know they cannot attend - something they hope to address with a new system this autumn.

And Mrs Critchlow does not think fining people for missing an appointment is the answer.