A new report has suggested that around nine million GP appointments are being missed each year.

The study, by Developing Patient Partnerships and the Institute of Healthcare Management, also found that just under four million nurse appointments are also being missed by members of the public.

However, the number of missed GP appointments is down by around 3.5 million since last year's survey.

While the figures prompted calls for patients who miss appointments to be fined, health professionals gave their backing to continued efforts to raise public awareness of the issue.

Some 60 per cent of GP practices said missed appointments were a continuing problem and 64 per cent said they would support the introduction of charges to tackle the issue.

Responding to the findings, Professor David Haslam of the Royal College of GPs said missed appointments were "a wasted opportunity for another patient".

"Those few patients who repeatedly miss appointments are depriving other patients of care," he added.

"More practices are guaranteeing rapid access, which should make it unnecessary for patients to book a future appointment 'just in case'.

"Nine million missed GP appointments is a distressing waste to the NHS and patients."

And Simon Williams of the Patients' Association said education campaigns had "helped reduce the number of missed GP appointments by an impressive 3.5 million".

"While the number of appointments missed remains very high, it clearly shows the effectiveness of initiatives that takes into consideration both doctors and patients," he added.

Developing Patient Partnerships said its findings showed that a "high volume of appointments are being missed".

"These forgotten millions of missed appointments lead to unavoidable inefficiencies in GP services," said spokesman Dr Terry John.

The Department of Health said that most people were now being seen by GPs within two days.

But a spokesman added that "patients have a responsibility to keep or cancel appointments".