The only numbers that are "lo-call" (in BT parlance) are 0845 numbers. 0844 numbers are termed "special service" numbers.

It's slightly incorrect to say that 0844 numbers cost 5p/min - they can cost anything between 1p and 5p/min (no prizes for guessing which the 0870 numbers will be changed to...) However, the point about payphones is a very good one.

Rather then believing "spin" from NEG, could it be a threat of legal action if they drop revenue-generating numbers (losing 0870 numbers will deprive dotors of their share of the revenue, but NEG will continue to generate an (albeit smaller) revenue from 084 numbers).

An idea would be to inform the national press (particularly papers that covered the 0870 ban in depth) that the new rules will still be ripping off people contacting their doctor - which is actually more scandalous than the original use of 0870 numbers, seeing as it's officially sanctioned by the government!

Quote:

These NEG 0844 numbers will cost 5p per minute at all times though and thus 233% more than most 0870 numbers on a Saturday and Sunday.

All of this merely goes to show that NTS is actually built on a lie of quite breathtaking proportions.

Quote:

So they are using BT 'brand-names' to describe these numbers, rather than a generic title, and using it incorrectly at that.

This from the Bexhill Observer today. The punch-line is in the last paragraph. Who was that said that NEG had already got its 0844 numbers lined up? The DoH are obviously hoping that it has produced a sufficiently opaque smoke-screen!!

BEXHILL doctors will no longer be allowed to charge their patients more for
calling the surgery.

Health Minister John Hutton has announced a ban on expensive telephone numbers that charge
patients premium and national rates to call their local NHS heaithcare services, saying sick peo-
ple should not have to "pay over the odds".

Calls cost approximately eight pence per minute.

The surgeries in Little Common and Old Town are among 300 nationwide to adopt the
new-system - much to the fury of local residents.

One patient told us: "My own objection was that this was done under the counter.
I have spoken to so many other people and none had any idea whatsoever that this number
was so expensive, they didn't twig that this system is costing them so much more."

"That is why I was so against it - it was underhand and iniquitous."
"I don't think the surgery should get away with it; it's morally wrong, and I don't want to have to listen to that music."

National rate telephone numbers start with an 087 prefix, while premium rate telephone num-
bers start with 09.

The only special service numbers the NHS will be able to use in future are freephone num-
bers or those that offer patients a guaranteed low rate call, such as 0845 or 0844.

It is now expected that GP practices will change over to these numbers, a switch which
should be completed by spring.

Around £500 will be provided to each surgery to help cover the cost of changing over.

A spokesman for two surgeries said; "We will be acting within recent government guidelines
and it is envisaged that the surgery telephone numbers will be changed to 0844 numbers by the
end of April. We understand from our system supplier that the matter is in hand and we are awaiting
their further advice."

Another e-mail to the Department of Health:

Yes, I agree with kk. Thats the reality!

Hi Lompos

[this is better posted here than under "BT Telephone ..."]

The more reporting you do the better, all types of pressure help.

You could report the Practice to the GMC, at the same time.  

In the end, the doctors may well come to the conclusion that the 0870 – 0844 number scam in not worth the hassle.

Pretending that an 0844 ContactCall at 5p/min, at all times, is the same as the price you or anybody would pay for a local/national call (at most 3p/min.) is  misrepresentation.  Which is  against the GMC code of conduct and would be a disciplinary offence.

You could also point out to the GMC, that with the new proposed 0844 numbers, (and with non-geographical numbers in general), you could find yourself in a life threatening situation.  If you became ill outside the UK, doctors may not be able to contact your own GP for essential information.  

In common with many other respondents, I received what appears to be the 'standard template' reply from the DHS:

Dear Mr xxxxx,

Thank you for your recent email to the Department of Health regarding the use of premium rate numbers to contact NHS services in the local area.

On 24 February, John Hutton (Minister of State for Health) announced a ban
on the use of NHS service providers requiring patients to use premium and
national rate telephone numbers to call NHS services in their area.  Under
these changes, from April NHS organisations will not be able to set up new
premium and national rate telephone numbers for patients contacting local
services.  GP practices currently using national rate telephone lines will
be expected to change these to 'lo-call' rate numbers, which offer patients
a guaranteed low call charge.  These changes should be completed by the
spring.

In the interests of clarity, numbers that start with the prefix:

·     087 are national rate numbers, which will be banned;

·     09 are premium rate numbers, which will also be banned; and

·     0845 or 0844 offer patients a guaranteed low rate call, and will be
allowed.

The only special service numbers the NHS will be able to use in future are
'freephone' numbers, or those that offer patients a guaranteed low rate
call, such as '0845' or '0844' numbers.

I hope this reply is helpful, and clarifies the action the Department has
taken.

Yours sincerely,


Steven Walker
Customer Service Call Centre
Department of Health

Here is what I wrote in reply. I will look forward to an answer with great interest!

Dear Steven

Thank you for your reply to my recent email.

However, I must take serious issue with some of your statements.

There is now no such thing as a 'national rate' or 'local rate' call. All 0870, 0945 and 0844 numbers are
listed by British Telecom as 'premium rate numbers'. 0845 and 0844 numbers are NOT 'low rate' as you claim.
Indeed, for many people in the UK who purchase an inclusive call plan from their telecommunications
provider for all normal 'geographic calls', calls to these non-geographic premium rate numbers are
specifically excluded. 0844 calls are charged at 5p per minute at all times. Even without an inclusive
call plan, the most expensive rate for a normal call is 3p per minute to a normal number (commencing 01 or
02). At best, with an inclusive plan, such calls are 0p per minute! So, how can you claim 5p is a 'low
rate'? It is still a premium rate! Indeed, with many suppliers, a subscriber can actually call subscribers
in Australia or the USA for less than half that price!

There are even more serious implications if you are unfortunate enough to be one of the millions of people
who do not have a personal phone, and must resort to a public call-box. Calls to 0845 and 0844 numbers
from a call-box attract an even greater premium than they do from a normal phone. Calling an 0844 number
from a call-box cost 946% - yes, nine hundred and forty six percent more! - than an 01 or 02 call from the
same call-box at all times! This is a huge imposition to place on the poorest and most seriously
disadvantaged members of our community.

As if this is not enough, it is almost always impossible to place a call to the non-geographic numbers
from telephones outside of the United Kingdom. Recognising this fact, many organisations who have chosen to use profit sharing numbers such as 0870 and 0845 do provide a geographic alternative for their
customers who are overseas. This could be a life and death situation if a patient were on holiday and was
unable to get in contact with their GP. Let us be absolutely clear about this. It would be because the GP
had chosen to enter into a dubious commercial agreement with a provider of telephone services that used an 0844 number to provide a revenue stream to that provider from the patients' calls.

It is not enough for the Minister of State for Health to ban "premium and national rate telephone numbers
to call NHS services in their area." The ban MUST also include ALL non-geographic numbers in the ranges
including 0845 and 0844. The only acceptable numbers for any GP should be either an 0800 (free-phone)
number, or, more realistically a geographic (01 - 02) number that can be called for 0p from many phones; a
normal - and real -low rate from a call-box, and can also be called from overseas. Anything else is a
dangerous and expensive sham and completely misleads the British public.

I look forward to a favourable reply from you.

Of course, I realise that 'Steven' is only some lowly paid clerk. Perhaps I should send the reply to the Minister. Anyone know his email address?   

Keep up the rage!