Jill Tomalin, of Glendale Terrace, Totnes, writes:

I attended a breast screening appointment on Steamer Quay, Totnes, recently and was dismayed to find that more than 20 people had simply failed to turn up.

I wonder if they are aware that each 'no show' costs the NHS more than £50, as the equipment and staff still have to be paid for.

I was told this was untypically high but that is still more than £1,000 of precious NHS funds wasted in just one day.

It is, of course, everyone's right to decide whether they want to take up the offer of being screened, or perhaps the date offered may not have been convenient, but surely those who choose not to go can let the NHS know by making a simple phone call.

When you add this to the high level of people missing appointments at the Leatside Surgery, then we have to question the thoughtless attitude of some of those who fail to attend.

The NHS may be a 'free' service for all, but actually we all pay for it, its funds are under severe strain – as are its staff – and we simply cannot afford to be wasteful in this way.