Text messages are welcomed by GP patients in Wigan

Text messages are helping to reduce the number of patients failing to attend GP appointments in Wigan.
NHS England says more than 15 million appointments - one in 20 - are wasted each year because patients do not turn up.
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Each appointment costs an average of £30, putting the total bill for the NHS at more than £216m. That could pay the annual salary for 2,325 GPs or 216,000 drug treatment courses for Alzheimer’s.
Action is already being taken in Wigan, with text message reminders sent to patients about appointments.... read more