Readers panel: Are irresponsible patients to blame for the high number of missed NHS appointments? 

Figures from NHS Digital show that almost eight million hospital appointments were missed in 2016-17 at a cost of around £1 billion to the NHS. England’s chief nurse Jane Cummings has called on patients to ‘use the health service responsibly’ and cancel appointments in ample time if they can’t attend. Nursing Standard readers have their say