Rishi Sunak will no longer be going ahead with his pledge to charge people for missed GP appointments, the prime minister’s spokesperson has said.

The Number 10 spokesperson said “now is not the time to take this policy forward”.

During the summer Conservative leadership contest, Mr Sunak pledged to introduce a £10 fine for patients who miss appointments.

Mr Sunak wants to deliver a stronger NHS and the “sentiment remains people should not be missing appointments”, according to the PM’s spokesperson.

But they added: “We have listened to GPs and NHS leaders and agreed now is not the time to take this policy forward.”

Mr Sunak visited Croydon University Hospital in south London on Friday, where he was quizzed on nurses’ pay.

NHS staff including nurses and porters are currently voting on strike action over real terms pay cuts.

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Dodging a question on their salaries, Mr Sunak said: “It is brilliant to be here at Croydon Hospital, to see the great work of the doctors and nurses here.

“One of the priorities for my government is going to be tackling the COVID backlogs and supporting the NHS.

“We face lots of challenges as a country, but I am confident that we can fix the economy and deliver on the promise of the 2019 manifesto, including having a stronger NHS.”

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