This has been sparked by a situation by a friend but is a general AIBU.
My mum has cancer and has been treated amazingly by the NHS. She's attended all appointments and rearranged where absolutely necessary as soon as letters have arrived. As a family we've seen the best the NHS has to offer and the dedication of its staff.
I'm undergoing extensive dental treatment and often see the signs about how 30-50 people didn't turn up for appointments that month. Afaik dentists strike patients for doing it more than once.
However this holiday a friend has cancelled optical appointments on the day half an hour before the appointment for all her DCs because they want to meet friends or have had a sleepover the night before and don't want to go.
Both times these have been rearranged.
However I can't help thinking with such stretched resources there should be consequences for doing this? Maybe some financial penalty (set payments for missed appointments without suitable reason) or a time penalty before you can rebook?
There are people desperate for appointments who are waiting long periods of time when they could have been seen.
AIBU? Am I thinking this issue can be solved more easily than the reality allows? I'm interested to hear others views and any solutions people know of and have.