Revenue sharing Phone Number for GP

shahidemran

Our GP has changed the main phone number(to book appointment etc) to 0844, which we believe is a Revenue Sharing Number :mad:. We are going to write a letter against this change and looking for some references. Are GPs allowed to have these sort of numbers, your expert opinion needed.

Heinz

It's a bit of a grey area if I've read things right.

However, the best place to go for up-to-date information is probably the https://www.saynoto0870.com forum.

http://www.saynoto0870.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.cgi?num=1272309035

victor2

Those type of numbers have to "deliver to" a regular landline number, which is what you really want to find out. Maybe they'll keep the old number active and you can carry on using that. If not and you have an understanding GP, ask that you are given the landline number because it will cost you too much to call the 0844 one.
Personally, I think they should be forced to advertise the landline number as well as the non-geographic ones they all seem to be heading towards.

olly300

Yes unfortunately they are.

I complained to my own GP's practise using the excuse that if someone is aboard and wants to make an appointment in advance they cannot. I was given the office manager's phone number. However unfortunately the phone is never answered.

To be honest you should see if your local paper is interested in the story particularly if you live in or next to a "deprived" area where most of the people only have mobile phones. As the rates are extortionate from a mobile I know because I've been at work places where they have blocked 0844 numbers so people can only call doctors from a mobile.

mjm3346

The Daily Mail earlier this year

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1246064/Millions-patients-pay-40p-minute-phone-GP.html

DonnyDave

shahidemran wrote: »

Our GP has changed the main phone number(to book appointment etc) to 0844, which we believe is a Revenue Sharing Number :mad:. We are going to write a letter against this change and looking for some references. Are GPs allowed to have these sort of numbers, your expert opinion needed.

Please name this surgery!

The changes to the GP Contract mean that they have until 31st March 2011 to stop using 084 numbers.

We at SAYNOTO0870.COM would like to know of any instances of number changing; either those who have abandoned 08 numbers, or those who have just climbed on the bandwagon. Do join the forum and let us know, or if you wish, post here or PM me with details.

Owain_Moneysaver

victor2 wrote: »

Those type of numbers have to "deliver to" a regular landline number

They don't have to; phone numbers (whether geographic, 08x or 09x) can be delivered straight into a PBX over ISDN30 or VoIP.

Quite possibly the surgery is getting numbers which go into the NHS VoIP phone system, making it easier for surgery calls to eventually be answered at a central call centre.

Of course the surgery can take incoming landline calls and extend them over VoIP if they had sufficient motivation and clue.

JohalaReewi

Have a read through this thread...

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/602529