WORCESTER doctors are backing a campaign urging patients to cancel appointments rather than not turning up.

GPs from across the city are joining in with the BMA campaign which aims at cutting spiralling NHS costs by raising awareness of the consequences of missing appointments.

A recent survey by the Doctor Patient Partnership showed nearly 90 per cent of GPs in the West Midlands thought missed appointments were a problem.

Around 80 per cent thought a reduction in missed appointments would lead to shorter waiting times, and 77 per cent thought charging patients for missed appointments was a reasonable solution.

A spokeswoman for South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust, which oversees GP services in the south of the county, said they were keen to work with the public on this issue.

"Missed appointments at GP surgeries and in hospitals cost the Primary Care Trust thousands of pounds every year," she said.

"If someone is unable to attend an appointment they should cancel it and this would enable someone else to use their place."

The DPP is launching its annual "Keep It Or Cancel It 2002" campaign that aims to reduce the number of missed appointments in general practice.

Dr Simon Fradd, chairman of the DPP, said patients should be encouraged to only book appointments which they really need and keep.

"Reducing missed appointments is something we all need to work at to enable patients to get the kind of service they want," he said.