The Suffolk Local Medical Committee has voiced concern after figures showed an average of 100 patients a month failed to attend appointments with their GPs in practices across the county.

It said the problem was further compounded by people also not showing up to appointments with practice nurses, nurse practitioners and health care assistants.

Kathryn Colsell, practice manager at Bury St Edmunds' Victoria Street Surgery, said 120 patients had failed to turn up in the last three weeks at the practice – including five people who did not attend on Monday.

"It does affect us," she said. "Put into context, it means that 120 people couldn't get an appointment because somebody didn't bother to cancel theirs.

"There's a lot pressure put on accessing GPs, but you can only access a GP if there's a slot available. I don't know what the answer is.

"Although we do give appointments on the day if it's urgent, it's a bit frustrating when patients come in and say they can't get an appointment. It's time wasted."

She said most of the problems occurred with appointments booked in advance, but added that she did not wish to move to a system of only booking slots at short notice.

Bill Robinson, the Suffolk Local Medical Committee's chief executive, said: "This problem is extremely wasteful of NHS resources and, if patients who were not able to attend their appointments would only just ring to let their practices know, then the appointment could be offered to another patient."

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