Thousands of patients are not turning up for hospital appointments, costing health trusts millions of pounds a year.
Figures published by the NHS Information Centre show more than 14,000 people did not appear for their first appointment at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust in one year.
It is believed these did not attends (DNAs) could cost the trust, which runs the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton and the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath among others, more than £3 million.
The trust is focusing on DNAs as part of wider plans to save £50 million over the next two years.
It has called in financial experts PricewaterhouseCoopers to come up with ideas to help it save money without cutting back on jobs, beds or services.
Almost 7,500 patients did not turn up for first appointments at Worthing Hospital and St Richard's Hospital in Chichester in the year.
And in East Sussex more than 9,900 people failed to appear for their first appointment at Eastbourne District General Hospital and the Conquest Hospital in St Leonards.
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