Rishi Sunak made the pledge during his first attempt to become Conservative leader earlier this summer.
Image source, PA MediaPrime Minister Rishi Sunak has scrapped a Conservative leadership campaign pledge he made to fine patients who miss GP and hospital appointments £10.
He made the pledge during this summer’s leadership contest against Liz Truss.
Mr Sunak had argued it was “not right” some patients were failing to turn up, taking slots from those in need.
A No 10 spokeswoman said the decision was taken after “listening to GPs” and acknowledging “now is not the right time to take this policy forward”.
She added that Mr Sunak wants to deliver “a stronger NHS and the sentiment remains that people should not be missing their appointments and taking up NHS time”.
Critics of the proposal included doctors’ union the British Medical Association (BMA), which said it would “make matters worse” and threaten the NHS’s principle of free care at the point of need.