The failure by patients to keep medical appointments is costing the NHS millions of pounds, according to the Scottish Executive.

The latest figures show that one patient in 10 is misses an appointment.

The disclosure has led to calls for a national campaign urging patients to adopt a more responsible attitude.

The figures for 1997 to 1998 show that thousands of appointments are being ignored.

Millions wasted

Of a total of 1,371,444 outpatient referrals 149,674 (10.9%) failed to turn up.

Figures for Greater Glasgow Health Board show that 15.2% of patients failed to attend their appointments.

Hospitals offering community services came top of the league, although it is recognised that this is most probably because they offer psychiatric services.

Orkney comes out best with only 3.4% of islanders not turning up.

Campaign call

The number who did not attend (DNA) in the Borders was 5.9%, in Dumfries and Galloway Royal 6.5% and in Lanarkshire it was 12.8%

The failure to keep appointments wastes millions of pounds for the NHS and impacts on consultants' time when they are trying to meet ambitious waiting list targets.

Labour MSP George Foulkes has written to the Health Minister Susan Deacon asking her to back a national campaign urging patients to change their ways.

He said: "While some people are unable to attend because of sudden emergencies or other unavoidable reasons, in most cases people could either phone to change or cancel appointments or make real efforts to keep them.

"The truth is millions of pounds could be saved and waiting lists reduced if a minority of people stopped acting irresponsibly."

Board	Total	DNA	%
Greater Glasgow	290,425	149,674	15.2%
Lanarkshire	152,374	19,476	12.8%
Argyll and Clyde	116,398	13,396	11.5%
Ayrshire and Arran	100,303	10,096	10.1%
Fife	93,644	9,423	10.1%
Lothian	188,925	18,984	10%
Forth Valley	66,265	6,606	10%
Tayside	124,077	11,325	9.1%
Grampian	111,235	8,104	7.3%
Western Isles	6,451	453	7%
Highland	51,156	3,503	6.8%
Dumfries and Galloway	33,775	2,179	6.5%
Borders	26,268	1,551	5.9%
Shetland	4,904	214	4.4%
Orkney	2,554	88	3.4%