Urgh. GP surgery having a laugh!

msfoxymax

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: I must be one of those crazy parents too cos that's what i would have done lol!!

jamespir

sounds a way to rip people off for an essential service what happens if it was a real emergency

NCISROCKS

msfoxymax wrote: »

I hope you have 'guided' them to have more empathy than you do :cool:

Anyway back to the OP........... Hope your sweep goes ok when you eventually get it and good luck with the new bubba

....empathy..oh dear!....my children could wind me round any one of their fingers. Come right/wrong as an adult I decided...we had the usual problems with this..but we got there. They still tease me about how much they tried to push boundaries!

zzzLazyDaisy

GP's surgeries are supposed to have stopped using 084 numbers from April this year, although it seems that many are continuing to do so.

Here is an article about the abuse of these numbers in Yorkshire

http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/health/gp_surgeries_are_still_using_premium_rate_dialling_codes_join_the_debate_1_3322581

I know you probably don't much feel like campaigning at the moment, but it might be worth sending a copy of this article together with details of your GP's contact numbers to your local PALS office and/or your local paper and/or your MP.

flossy_splodge

VfM4meplse wrote: »

I can understand your irritation, but there are times that GP practices are closed to the public when other surgery business continues. Many practices are closed for around 90 mins in the middle of the day but 12pm is a bit early.This is unacceptable and there was a direction to all practives to stop this sime time ago. Call your local PCT PALS dept (google "NHS" followed by the name of your county / borough if you live in London) which should be free of charge, and report your difficulty to them. Ask what hours they are supposed to be open (the practice should have a signed agreement to open during these times). The PALS teams should at least be able to give you a non-0844 number.

I have found this thread fascinating - I didn't know about the instruction to cease 0844 numbers, can someone tell me EXACTLY where I can find the evidence for this please?
I have to ring for appointments for my father and his surgery only has 0844 number so I have just emailed them, quoting the info on this thread and asking for an alternative geographic number. We will see what response I get!
I am always out and about or at work when I need to phone so I too leave it until I can go in as it is so expensive to call.
Thanks to all for the information. Will let you know how I get on.

Beetlemama

I'd have woken my kid up and said sorry kid we have to go out...but in this situation it doesn't sound like it would have been worth the trip anyway if they tell you to go home and phone.

I sympathise though - after all, that's what this board is for, for people to let off steam and for us to come say poor you and that sucks. I went to the Job center once a year or so ago to see what current wages were like in the town I live in (I work in a city so the wages are higher) thinking I might get a job closer to home, only to find that they don't actually have jobs on boards in the Job Center any more, I asked the lady, she said I have to phone up and ask them what jobs they have but I could use her phone....what? why aren't they on little bits of card on a board like they were 20odd years ago when I last went hunting?

zzzLazyDaisy

Flossy - apparently guidelines were introduced on 1st April. I have googled for more information but very little is coming up. There is another article about it here

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-1721790/Millions-still-pay-premium-rates-to-call-GP.html


If you scroll right to the bottom, there is a comment along the lines of 'GPs are free to carry on using these numbers but they must ensure that patients are charged no more than a standard rate call'.

Edit: just found this report, confirming the above:

http://www.pendletoday.co.uk/news/local-news/trust_confirms_084_phone_charges_follow_guidelines_1_3583949

It really doesn't help people with mobile phones though as geographical landline numbers come within the inclusive minutes of a contract, whereas 084 numbers are charged extra, so they will always pay more than a standard rate call. Many people don't have landlines these days, so this policy does penalise those people.



I haven't found a copy of the actual guidelines yet, but if anyone else finds them it would be great if you post a link.

MamaMoo_2

Beetlemama wrote: »

I'd have woken my kid up and said sorry kid we have to go out...but in this situation it doesn't sound like it would have been worth the trip anyway if they tell you to go home and phone.

I sympathise though - after all, that's what this board is for, for people to let off steam and for us to come say poor you and that sucks. I went to the Job center once a year or so ago to see what current wages were like in the town I live in (I work in a city so the wages are higher) thinking I might get a job closer to home, only to find that they don't actually have jobs on boards in the Job Center any more, I asked the lady, she said I have to phone up and ask them what jobs they have but I could use her phone....what? why aren't they on little bits of card on a board like they were 20odd years ago when I last went hunting?

Was I ill, or had it been urgent, I wouldn't have let him get comfy in the first place, and would have gone over and stood my ground. As it was, all I wanted was a contact number, which I eventually figured out I could call the community midwives office and get.
It's more just the principle. If I was ill, it would have been a total pain to have to spend so much time/money/effort to do something so simple.

My local Job Centre has little computer podiums with touch screens that you use to search for jobs. When you fond one you're interested in, you print out a receipt with all the details. Some of the slips have e-mail addresses, company names and locations, and tell you how to apply. The other half have a vague description, no indication of who the employer is, and then you have to phone an 0845 number to get more information on the job and how to apply. Seems pointless to me. Especially if you have to queue up for 45 minutes to use the flipping phone!

[Deleted User]

I think the only thing to do is complain to the surgery manager as has already been suggested. You can't be the only person on mobile phone access only.

Or ask if your midwife has a direct number.., often they do.

Or change surgery. Very few surgeries are as awkward as this.

My surgery was exactly the same but I found that I could phone their old number and get through so I just kept using that. Obviously you can't.

lil.smartie

Our surgery has fab staff, we can make Drs appts on line & repeat prescriptions (not nurses appts though!) BUT our PCT is so restrictive that they aren't allowed to do anything but 'toe the line' they use a skin !!!!! test for INR testing but we can't use our own machine that's identical & do it at home & call in the results. It takes 1/2 hr to drive from work to the surgery, never any parking spaces, always running late etc on top of sitting with a bunch of ill people! grr...

As for midwifes... are you sure you don't live in Somerset? I was told I was going to a hospital over an hour away only to find out for myself about 2 birthing units less than 15 mins from home....

Kate