I WAS interested in the letter from your recent correspondent voicing concerns at unattended appointments at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

I wrote in similar vein to the Hospital Trust and my MP several months ago. I was similarly alarmed after frequent visits to various departments, with family members, at the notices in each clinic bringing patients' attention to the numbers of patients failing to attend each month (not one or two but 54 quoted in one).

I was not surprised by the terse reply received from the Trust stating, not in so many words, 'keep your nose out of our organisation' and they 'don't penalise sick people' and most patients fail to attend as they're ill anyway. David Crausby was much more attentive and understood what I said.

My suggestion was a clause in appointment letters saying that patients failing to attend COULD result in their having to go to the bottom of the waiting lists. Dentists charge for missed appointments other than check-ups don't they? I agree with your correspondent that prior warnings may just make people more diligent and thus cut waiting lists.

Mrs V Hamer

Bradshaw