§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many GP appointments were missed in(a) the Castle Point and Rochford Primary Care Trust and (b) England in the last year for which figures are available; [189069]
(2) what his latest estimate is of the cost of a missed general practitioner appointment; and if he will make a statement. [189073]
§ Mr. HuttonThe average cost of a consultation with a general practitioner is about £20. Missed appointments do waste doctors' time and national health service resources and we encourage everyone to keep or cancel appointments. However, the Department does not collect or hold information on the number of GP appointments which are missed by patients.