Against 0844 to call doctors surgeries?

patman99

What if you were to arrange a telephone consult with one of the Doctors?. They would have to call you back from the surgery and if you told them they had to stick '1470' (I think that's the right number) in front of your phone number, then as soon as they ring-off, dial 1471 and you should get the number of the person who just rang you.
As this will be the surgery, then if it is a non-0844 number, write it down then dial it. If you get through to the surgery receptionist, then bingo. You will now have the non-0844 number to pass-on to all who need it.

bcl999

fluffnutter wrote: »

Do any surgeries only have 0844 numbers? I should imagine it will be difficult to rouse much enthusiasm for this if there's always a cheaper alternative.

Mine does. And it's all to "improve the service we offer". Yeah,right!

bcl999

Signed up.

researcher

bcl999 wrote: »

Signed up.

Thanks - I hope more will too.

deanos

patman99 wrote: »

What if you were to arrange a telephone consult with one of the Doctors?. They would have to call you back from the surgery and if you told them they had to stick '1470' (I think that's the right number) in front of your phone number, then as soon as they ring-off, dial 1471 and you should get the number of the person who just rang you.
As this will be the surgery, then if it is a non-0844 number, write it down then dial it. If you get through to the surgery receptionist, then bingo. You will now have the non-0844 number to pass-on to all who need it.

Unless they withhold the number :cool:

researcher

Just asked to speak to the practice manager - she will call be back (I will check her number, but normally withheld). The receptionist told me that even when staff have to telephone in to the surgery they have to use the 0844 number so they avoid making calls too.

Ian01

The main company that was selling these systems with an 0844 telephone number finally stopped selling them to the NHS in May 2013. They also confirmed shortly after, that there is no charge for transferring from an 084 number to an 03 number at any point within the telephone service contract.

There's still hundreds of practices using 084 and 087 telephone numbers. NHS England has spent several months researching the extent of the problem. Decisive action is expected soon.

fluffnutter wrote: »

Do any surgeries only have 0844 numbers? I should imagine it will be difficult to rouse much enthusiasm for this if there's always a cheaper alternative.

The GMS Contract requires GP practices to "ensure" that callers do not pay more than the equivalent of calling a geographic number. Having an "alternative" does not meet that requirement, as people could accidentally ring the more expensive number or fail to realise the cheaper number exists.

Some practices do have an 01 or 02 number in addition to the 0844 number. Unlike the 0844 number, the geographic number is usually set up on a single line with no call queueing. It returns the engaged signal when someone else is already on it, and therefore offers a lower level of service.

Nowhere within the NHS is it acceptable to offer a better service if the patient pays more. The only remedy is for all 084 and 087 numbers to be completely switched off and only 01, 02 and 03 numbers be used.

patman99

If you tell the receptionist or Practice Manager that you have witheld number blocking on your phone so they need to append 1470 to the front of the number in order to get through, then they should do this.

You can then dial 1471 to get the geographical number they dialed you on.

visidigi

mine just changed to local numbers from an 0844 last month - now you can't get through for 30 minutes as everyone can call for 'free'.

Total nightmare.

DaveAA

visidigi wrote: »

mine just changed to local numbers from an 0844 last month - now you can't get through for 30 minutes as everyone can call for 'free'.

When the 0844 number was used, you were spending several pounds while waiting in the queue. With the new system, re-dialling after hearing the busy tone costs nothing.

Your local practice is obviously too tight to pay for call-queueing features on their new number even though previously they were quite happy to pass that cost on to callers through the imposition of a Service Charge. That charge is built into the 0844 call price and it opened the oppportunity for your phone company to add a huge markup on top (exception: BT is currently regulated to add nothing on top).

All of those people you're now "competing" with for a connection were previously sat in the queue each running up a large bill and each contributing 5p/min to the practice (a few pence per minute towards the technical call handling costs and 2p/min towards payment of the lease for their telephone switchboard).