Having read the article in the Gazette (May 29) about missed appointments at GP surgeries, I agree that people should always cancel an appointment if they no longer need it, but I don’t think they should be charged if they don’t cancel.

After all, this problem would not arise if the appointment system had not been introduced. Surely it is not progress when you sometimes have to wait two or three weeks to see your doctor, when years ago you could simply go along to your doctor’s surgery as soon as you needed to and, after waiting your turn, you went in and all the doctor had to do was take your notes from his filing cabinet and start the consultation.

And if he thought you needed a blood test, he would even do that, not tell you to make an appointment to have one in three weeks time.

The reason why GPs are so busy now is because so many people go to them with such minor ailments. People used to cure themselves of everyday illnesses.

Also, so much money is spent on sending letters to patients, almost telling them to go for tests for this and screening for that. Maybe prevention is better than cure, but I would rather be left in peace, as long as I felt reasonably well, and if nothing can be done for me when I do become really ill, then that will be how it was meant to be.

What is the good of keeping people alive longer, as no-one knows what to do with old people when they can’t look after themselves?

Carol Burgess, Hodge Close, Devizes.