HOSPITAL services across Worcestershire are being put under massive strain by patients from Bromsgrove and Droitwich Spa who do not turn up for appointments, say health bosses.

Worcestershire Health Authority estimates by the end of the year, more than ten per cent of appointments will have been wasted by 10,000 patients failing to show up at hospitals.

The number would be 52 per cent above Government targets for so-called do-not-attends (DNAs) and the culprits are causing the trust, which runs hospitals, serious problems.

"A ten per cent DNA figure's a very significant drain on resources for the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust," said the authority's director of finance and commissioning, Mike Ridley.

He added: "I'm happy that there's a lot of management going on within the trust to bring the numbers down."

A target of 6,579 DNAs for acute hospitals in the county, including Redditch's Alexandra, was set for the 2001/2002 financial year.

At the present rate, 10,045 patients will have missed appointments with hospital consultants by the end of March.

On one day, 57 patients failed to turn up to a diabetic clinic.

The authority fears the missed appointments are having a knock-on effect on services, with the county's acute hospitals also failing to meet targets on waiting times.

In September, more than 100 patients had waited more than 26 weeks for an out-patient appointment, compared with a target of 49.

The trust has now brought in staff to telephone patients to remind them about appointments and also contact them after they miss a slot.