Newspapers like to report on instances of waste in the NHS. Yes, this happens and needs to be sorted out. But we contribute to the waste, and need to change our ways.
In 2014, the NHS reported that in 2012-2013, people failed to keep 6.9 million hospital appointments. At £108 per appointment, that equals £745,200,000. A further 12 million GP appointments were not kept. At the same time other people were unable to get appointments or had lengthy waits. If you have an appointment, keep it. If you can't keep it, or no longer need it - let the hospital or GP know as soon as possible - they may be able to fit someone else in.
Unused medications are another problem. As an example, in the diocese of Bath and Wells in the south-west of England, prescription medication worth around £12 million was returned to dispensaries. That money could have bought medication for people who would have used it. If you don't intend taking medication - tell your GP or consultant, or don't use the prescription.
