evidence: In 2017/18, hospitals cancelled more appointments (175,428) than patients not showing up (139,351). However, in the same period, patients cancelled notably more appointments (207,960) than hospitals did. Hospitals account for 34% and patients 66% of all appointments scheduled but not held. [...] On 12 March 2019, BBC Radio Ulster’s Nolan Show discussed whether people should pay to see their General Practitioner in order to reduce the number of no-shows. Presenter Stephen Nolan pointed out to guest Dr George O’Neill GP that people not turning up at their doctor’s appointments "ultimately costs the NHS millions of pounds a year". Dr O’Neill, who argued against the suggestion, responded that in relation to hospital appointments, "almost as many appointments were cancelled by hospitals as were resulted by people not turning up" (01:46-02:10). [...] From 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018, there were more hospital appointments cancelled by hospitals (175,428) than appointments where people did not turn up (139,351). However, including appointments that were cancelled by patients (207,960), hospital cancellations account for only a third of the total of cancelled or missed appointments.