As a recent outpatient at Tavistock Hospital I was appalled to learn that the reason I was seen early was that the two previous patients had failed to either turn up or apologise.

Doctors come to Tavistock so that we do not have to travel to Derriford and this cavalier behaviour is unacceptable.  I suggest that a £50 fine be levied on all such NHS non-attenders and that for any future appointment they are levied a £50 deposit returnable when they actually attend or apologise in advance.

Mary Hurn

Chillaton