The Prime Minister who created the NHS would be “horrified” that patients “abuse” the health service by turning up drunk at A&E and missing appointments, his granddaughter has said.

Jo Roundell Greene, the granddaughter of Labour leader Clement Attlee, said when the health service was created people were “so grateful” but now some people take the system “for granted”.

Money wasted on missed appointments could help the health service provide patients with cutting edge treatments and new medicines, she said.

Ms Roundell Greene, a Liberal Democrat councillor who is one of Mr Attlee’s 11 grandchildren, said: “I think he would be delighted that it is still going but it doesn’t look anything like it did when it was first envisaged.

“I think that he would be delighted that we are able to help the most vulnerable people who really need to have free medical help, but quite horrified perhaps by some of the abuse that it has had - little things like people not turning up for appointments and just not bothering."