Sunak drops pledge to fine patients who miss doctor’s appointment

Now is not the right time to take this policy forward, says prime minister's spokesperson

Rishi Sunak has dropped his Conservative leadership campaign pledge to fine patients 10 if they miss a GP or hospital appointment.

The prime minister had told Tory members in August it was wrong" that there are 15m missed appointments every year NHS" at GPs and hospitals, as he justified the fine as a tough" measure to change people's behaviour.