LAST year, for the first time ever, I missed a hospital appointment.

The following day, mortified, I visited the clinic to apologise and request a new appointment.

I was told that this was impossible because records showed I had missed three consecutive appointments.

Possibly the reality is more hopeful than NHS statistics, and your report (August 25), might suggest.

William Dixon Smith,

Welland Rise,

Acomb,

York.

Updated: 10:02 Monday, August 29, 2005