Found another cost for being disabled😡

M00minMama

I use patient transport to get too and from hospital.

Just found out their 0845 number to order transport cost me nearly £40 last month on my mobile!

They have also refused to give me an alternative number.

Another thing to add to the list when people ask " why is being disabled more expensive?"

DomRavioli

To be fair, not all disabled people are able to use PTS, and I'd say a large chunk don't use it if they are able.

I worked for the NHS for over a decade and we only had 0845 numbers for them, so I'm not sure where you would find an alternative number if the staff have to use the same one.

At least you are entitled to use PTS - I am not.

Gary_zero

Most 0845 number can be accessed by dialling 0345 instead which is Mobile friendly and comes out of your minutes. Have you tried it in this case?

pmlindyloo

Gary_zero wrote: »

Most 0845 number can be accessed by dialling 0345 instead which is Mobile friendly and comes out of your minutes. Have you tried it in this case?

How to do this:

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/mobile-phone/call-0845-0870-0800-numbers-free-from-your-mobile-uk-3471072/

rogerblack

pmlindyloo wrote: »

How to do this:

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/mobile-phone/call-0845-0870-0800-numbers-free-from-your-mobile-uk-3471072/

Or not.

Other 08 numbers, including 0845, are redialled using an alternative number sourced from a database such as the one at saynoto0870.com.

However.
http://www.live.sipgate.co.uk/ plus a SIP app - which you can run on your phone - will allow you to call 0845 numbers very reasonably.
(there are other SIP providers, the above is simply the one I use)

Ian011

Directions issued by the Department of Health in December 2009 banned the use of 084 numbers for NHS services.

This added to the previous ban on the use of 087 and 09 numbers that was put in place in 2005.

tomtontom

Are you not in receipt of DLA?

DomRavioli

Ian011 wrote: »

Directions issued by the Department of Health in December 2009 banned the use of 084 numbers for NHS services.

This added to the previous ban on the use of 087 and 09 numbers that was put in place in 2005.

This hasn't been filtered down to staff level - They are still used on a daily basis, by current NHS staff, although some of these may be contracted out I'm guessing and come under the allied worker rules rather than NHS.

Cyclamen

Ouch that is pricey.. the reception team at our local hospital are always happy to phone for us when we need help getting home. I asked them once if they had the phone number I could use and they rang for me and told em to go back and ask again next time.

Would your hospital reception phone for you?

I tend to either go in by ambulance or am well enough for the patient taxibus which anyone in the area can use.

I hope you find a solution..

Ian011

These documents have some answers. The December 2009 entry is relevant to NHS bodies.

http://www.fairtelecoms.org.uk/chronology.html

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130107105354/http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Legislation/Directionsfromthesecretaryofstate/DH_110480

Since 1 July 2015, new Ofcom rules require all users of 084, 087 and 09 numbers to declare the Service Charge for their number everywhere that it is advertised. As the NHS is 'free at the point of need', other than charges and fees approved by parliament (e.g. prescription charges), NHS services are not permitted to levy a Service Charge on patients.

Most services have moved to 01, 02, 03 or 080 numbers.

custardy

http://www.weq4u.co.uk