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NHS chooseandbook (Read 15,715 times)

mikeparris

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NHS chooseandbook
Jun 30^th, 2007 at 12:41pm

Here we go again!

Went to my GP who is referring me to a specialist. I have to use the new NHS system, chooseandbook, to choose a specialist and to make an appointment. You can do it on line or via 0845 or 0844 numbers.

So despite all the talk about not exploiting patients and the cost of using these numbers from call boxes and mobiles, they have introduced a new system that requires the most vulnerable to shell out a lot of money to receive vital health care.

And of course the 0844 number is marked as "Local rate call".

Numbers are 0845 60 88 88 8 and 08444 772545. (My Gp warned me off the 0845 number as being useless)

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fiyero

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Re: NHS chooseandbook
Reply #1 - Jan 12^th, 2008 at 12:46am

I work at Choose and Book (central choose and book, the 0845 number) and there is no geographical number but you can book online, or your GP / someone at the practice can do it for you.

If you have your reference number and password ready it is a very short call (average length 3 minutes), and we can also give information about the hospitals etc... much cheaper than 118 118 Cheesy

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fiyero

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Re: NHS chooseandbook
Reply #2 - Jan 12^th, 2008 at 12:48am

mikeparris wrote on Jun 30^th, 2007 at 12:41pm:

Numbers are 0845 60 88 88 8 and 08444 772545. (My Gp warned me off the 0845 number as being useless)

Well if there are 2 numbers you will only be able to book on the one that isn't 0845 6088888 as it means that hospital doesn't use central choose and book, they use their own local booking service. The 0845 number will be 'useless' in this case as you shouldn't have called it in the first place

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Dave Global Moderator Offline Posts: 9,902 Yorkshire Gender:	Re: NHS chooseandbook Reply #3 - Jan 12^th, 2008 at 12:41pm fiyero wrote on Jan 12^th, 2008 at 12:46am: I work at Choose and Book (central choose and book, the 0845 number) and there is no geographical number ... Can you tell us where the call centre is located? Is there more than one nationally?
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bbb_uk Global Moderator Offline Posts: 2,041	Re: NHS chooseandbook Reply #4 - Jan 12^th, 2008 at 1:29pm fiyero wrote on Jan 12^th, 2008 at 12:46am: (average length 3 minutes) Is this 3minutes based on average call length once answered or does it include waiting in the queue? I know someone that waited over 5mins to be answered and the call lasted about 2mins after.
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fiyero

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Re: NHS chooseandbook
Reply #5 - Jan 13^th, 2008 at 1:18am

Dave wrote on Jan 12^th, 2008 at 12:41pm:

fiyero wrote on Jan 12^th, 2008 at 12:46am:

I work at Choose and Book (central choose and book, the 0845 number) and there is no geographical number ...

Can you tell us where the call centre is located? Is there more than one nationally?

There are 3 sites: Milton Keynes, Chatham and Hedge End

bbb_uk wrote on Jan 12^th, 2008 at 1:29pm:

fiyero wrote on Jan 12^th, 2008 at 12:46am:

(average length 3 minutes)

Is this 3minutes based on average call length once answered or does it include waiting in the queue?

I know someone that waited over 5mins to be answered and the call lasted about 2mins after.

Well the queue is very rarely above 30 seconds, and except on a monday often 0. The 3 minutes is time speaking to an operator, i didn't think of the time before that.

If you want to get through without a queue phone on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon and definitly not on a Monday. Also you can use the website (I know it isn't an alternate number but still)

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jgxenite Supreme Member Offline Help us to help you - read the instructions!! Posts: 1,454 Gender:	Re: NHS chooseandbook Reply #6 - Jan 13^th, 2008 at 10:49pm Unless the system works on VoIP, then it is a lie that there is no underlying geographic numbers to any of the centres. If the system is using VoIP, then the NHS can surely shell out £1 a month to get an 03 number (perhaps even less than that!) instead of a rip off 0845 number.
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fiyero

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Re: NHS chooseandbook
Reply #7 - Jan 14^th, 2008 at 12:09am

jgxenite wrote on Jan 13^th, 2008 at 10:49pm:

Unless the system works on VoIP, then it is a lie that there is no underlying geographic numbers to any of the centres. If the system is using VoIP, then the NHS can surely shell out £1 a month to get an 03 number (perhaps even less than that!) instead of a rip off 0845 number.

Pretty sure it is Voip, people would probably moan even more at the cost of changing the number, that would cost the NHS a lot and that cost would be to the detriment of other departments.

It isn't as simple as just getting a new number!

Edit: it is the same phone system as NHS direct if anyone knows a bit more about that.

« Last Edit: Jan 14^th, 2008 at 12:10am by fiyero »

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derrick Supreme Member Offline Posts: 1,124	Re: NHS chooseandbook Reply #8 - Jan 14^th, 2008 at 12:49pm fiyero wrote on Jan 14^th, 2008 at 12:09am: Edit: it is the same phone system as NHS direct if anyone knows a bit more about that. Watch this space!
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jgxenite Supreme Member Offline Help us to help you - read the instructions!! Posts: 1,454 Gender:	Re: NHS chooseandbook Reply #9 - Jan 14^th, 2008 at 1:45pm Ooo, sounds like Derrick has a plan!
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bbb_uk Global Moderator Offline Posts: 2,041	Re: NHS chooseandbook Reply #10 - Jan 14^th, 2008 at 6:20pm jgxenite wrote on Jan 14^th, 2008 at 1:45pm: Ooo, sounds like Derrick has a plan! Derrick just loves NHS Direct and has exchanged many a happy emails/letters!!!!
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jgxenite Supreme Member Offline Help us to help you - read the instructions!! Posts: 1,454 Gender:	Re: NHS chooseandbook Reply #11 - Jan 14^th, 2008 at 7:48pm Yes, with "happy" in inverted commas I suspect .
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derrick

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Re: NHS chooseandbook
Reply #12 - Jan 15^th, 2008 at 3:32pm

jgxenite wrote on Jan 14^th, 2008 at 1:45pm:

Ooo, sounds like Derrick has a plan!

From this thread;- http://www.saynoto0870.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.cgi?num=1137940646/0

You will see reply 29, that I have appealed this and the hearing is set for 30th January., from the 18th August 2007 until end of January 2008. well I suppose 5 months isn't to long with bureaucrats!

Hopefully, a few weeks later I will have a decision in my favour!

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derrick Supreme Member Offline Posts: 1,124	Re: NHS chooseandbook Reply #13 - Jan 15^th, 2008 at 3:33pm jgxenite wrote on Jan 14^th, 2008 at 7:48pm: Yes, with "happy" in inverted commas I suspect .
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