A local GP group has said more than 100 appointments are wasted each week as a result of no-shows.

Beacon Medical Group is urging patients to let their practice know in advance if they cannot attend an appointment, after 112 appointments were missed in just one week.

During the last week of June, 52 patients failed to show up for appointments at Plympton Health Centre, one at Wotter, 32 at Ivybridge and 27 at Chaddlewood. A total of 112 appointments were missed across the sites from June 26 to 30, equivalent to 23 hours of wasted clinical time.

Chief operating officer at Beacon Medical Group Claire Oatway said: “Although our ‘Did Not Attend’ rate is low in comparison to some organisations, the issue is that access to GPs and nurses is a valuable, finite resource and patients who do not attend or who do not cancel are unintentionally denying access to other patients.

"In some cases patients book and DNA on the same day.

“Please, if you cannot attend your scheduled appointment, let us know so we can offer that appointment to someone else.”