Patients across East Yorkshire are costing the NHS millions of pounds by not turning up to hospital appointments.

Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust said if trends continue 60,000 people will have missed appointments by next March.

It is likely to cost the trust, which runs Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham, £6.5 million – equivalent to 300 nurses' salaries.

Meanwhile, managers need to save £94 million over the next five years, including £70 million by 2013.

Now, the trust is sending text reminders urging patients to attend their appointments or contact the relevant department and arrange an alternative date.

Phil Morley, the trust's chief executive, said: "My biggest frustration is that it is patients' money that is used to pay for the health service yet it is being wasted

"There is a real selfishness about not ringing up to cancel an appointment. It's not just about money either. People are waiting for treatments – others could have that slot.

"I think, by now, people know that across the whole public sector we are seeing significant savings being identified as a result of the Government's spending review.

"Our trust needs to save £94 million over the next five years and therefore we are exploring every possible way in which we can achieve this.

"One way the public can help us in this effort is to let us know if they can't, for whatever reason, attend their outpatient appointment."

The trust is paid by the region's primary care trusts for every patient it sees.

Mr Morley said: "When someone doesn't come to the hospital, we effectively lose the money we would have been paid for their appointment and yet we still have to pay staff to man the clinics and cover our overheads whether people turn up or not.

"When 60,000 people don't turn up in one year, it costs us a lot of money."

The trust said it will try to make it as easy as possible for patients to attend their appointments and has even set up a text message reminder system.

Mr Morley said: "We are improving our car parks to ensure parking is easier for patients and in some departments we are sending out text message reminders about appointments to patients.

"It is important to stress that £6 million is an estimate and we do, of course, account for the fact that some people may not attend their appointments when we book our clinics.

"However, every penny we save will be spent on other patient services, so the whole population benefits when we work together in this way."

Jonathan Appleton, team leader at Hull Local Involvement Network (Link), the city's independent health watchdog, said: "We agree that people need to take responsibility with this issue and contact the hospital if they can't make their appointment.

"We welcome any measures the hospital can take to improve attendance at appointments.

"Link investigations this year have shown that some patients face difficulties in attending NHS appointments, such as delays in pick-ups by the non-emergency patient transport service, and we are supporting action by the NHS to improve this service.

"There are also issues to consider in dealing with patients who have needs connected to a disability and may need extra help to ensure they can make their appointment."