MORE patients are failing to turn up for hospital appointments in Winchester, costing the NHS hundreds of thousands of pounds.

New figures show that in 2008-09 an estimated 22,000 appointments were missed, up from 19,757 in 2007-08 and 14,191 in 2006-07, an increase of around 50 per cent in two years.

The Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust reports that for April to September 2009 alone the figure was around 10,500.

The trust, which runs the Royal Hampshire County and Andover War Memorial hospitals, has launched a study into DNAs, ‘Do Not Attends’.

Hospital manager Andrew Cable said: “The financial costs are shocking but the hidden costs are equally depressing.

“Every missed appointment represents a patient who could have been treated more quickly.

“It is a shame to have a slot wasted with a DNA when someone in pain or discomfort would have taken the opportunity to be seen sooner.”