Hi, does anyone know local no. for 0844 no of Evergreen Surgery, Wanstead, London?

I mentioned them here : http://www.saynoto0870.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.cgi?num=1345260813

but no alternative so far.

Is 020 8989-0407 from http://www.nhs.uk/Services/GP/MapsAndDirections/DefaultView.aspx?id=41482 any good?

It doesn't work anymore.

bigjohn wrote on Oct 19^th, 2012 at 4:30pm:

I mentioned them here : http://www.saynoto0870.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.cgi?num=1345260813 but no alternative so far.

i think the guideline doesn't say GPs can't use 0844 numbers but they cannot charge more than local rate. its true that this number isn't more expensive than local rate, but its still chargeable and not included in regular call packages and often wait time is more than 10 mins. this wait time is also charged and then the cost is more than local rate call. is there anything patients can do or complain anywhere?

It is over 2 years ago that GPs were told 'they should not use 0844 or enter into, extend or renew a Contract' and 'take reasonable steps to change by 1st April 2011' there is only one 'reasonable step' to take, Migrate to 0344 now - this can be done within the Term of their Number Providers Contract without undue penalty and the PCTs who should have enforced this Variation to the GP Contract in 2009 and several reminders since, but all have been ignored.

The GP could say they charge 1p p.min or £20 p.min it makes no difference, they do not charge you anything, it is your phone plan provider that charges you, they then pass an additional Service Charge per minute to the GPs Provider to help pay for him/her Lovely System.

PCTs are guilty of dereliction of their duty of care by allowing those GPs to practice illegally, infact some PCTs are actually encouraging them, by accepting false letters of Compliance suppllied by an interested party, the GP Phone Service Provider.

Another possible way of getting a geo. number is to look on NHS Choices site for that Surgery and see if they have advertised any jobs - they usually give geo. numbers there.
Good luck

Quote:

I think the guideline doesn't say GPs can't use 0844 numbers but they cannot charge more than local rate.

That's about as logical as saying "you can drive at 200 miles per hour on the motorway as long as you don't break the speed limit."


Quote:

its true that this number isn't more expensive than local rate,

Since 2005, or so, there has been no such thing as "local rate".


0844 numbers cost more to call than 01, 02 and 03 numbers whether from a mobile or from a landline and therefore must not be used by GPs.