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GPs all over England (not just in South Yorkshire) (Read 891,460 times)
Dave
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Surgeries flout telephone rules, report reveals
Reply #45 - Oct 13th, 2011 at 12:21am
 
A recent report was published by The Argus' Health Reporter:

Doctors' surgeries flout telephone rules, report reveals


Also, published last week by Epping Forest Guardian:

EPPING FOREST: Fury as surgeries fail to change premium rate phone lines
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« Last Edit: Oct 13th, 2011 at 12:30am by Dave »  
 
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bazzerfewi
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Re: GPs in South Yorkshire (and other areas)
Reply #46 - Oct 15th, 2011 at 1:12am
 
I know Dave, Silent Victim and Barbara have pursued the issue about Doctors surgeries at some length, I have also contacted my MP Dan Jarvis (Barnsley Central) and although he has replied on a number of occassions this issue is still ongoing. Even our local surgery Monk Bretton Health Centre is still useing and 0845 number (fortunely I have the alternative number) but that is not the point they are breaking the law. Is there anything else that we can do, I assume that there are hundreds of surgeries still useing 08 numbers.
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sherbert
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Re: GPs in South Yorkshire (and other areas)
Reply #47 - Oct 15th, 2011 at 8:21am
 
Holbrook surgery in West Sussex are still using a 0844 number Angry
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SilentCallsVictim
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Re: GPs in South Yorkshire (and other areas)
Reply #48 - Oct 15th, 2011 at 11:00am
 
... and new cases continue to arise:

http://www.holeslanesurgery.co.uk/index.aspx
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sherbert
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Re: GPs in South Yorkshire (and other areas)
Reply #49 - Oct 18th, 2011 at 9:03am
 
After reading this

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15340914

I wonder if complaining about rip off telephone numbers will get you struck off? Undecided
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SilentCallsVictim
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Re: GPs in South Yorkshire (and other areas)
Reply #50 - Oct 31st, 2011 at 6:14pm
 
This story is scheduled for discussion on the Annie Othen show around 9 - 9.30 on BBC Coventry & Warwickshire tomorrow morning.

Local listeners will find the channel at 94.8 / 103.7 FM or on DAB; one can also listen live over the internet. By the end of tomorrow, I will have published a recording at this link.

I understand that the item will be an open discussion. If listeners are invited to call in, the number is 0845 900 5 200! Sadly this would preclude contributions from those who never call the numbers being discussed!


sherbert wrote on Oct 18th, 2011 at 9:03am:
I wonder if complaining about rip off telephone numbers will get you struck off? Undecided

It may be that someone will raise this point in the BBC C&W discussion. It has happened before in the case of a patient who "lost his rag" on hearing the nonsense that was offered by way of justification. The point is that the story referred to will prevent many from behaving quite fairly in raising a simple question - "How can you be using this number without breaching your NHS contract?".

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SilentCallsVictim
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Re: GPs in South Yorkshire (and other areas)
Reply #51 - Nov 1st, 2011 at 10:56am
 
The BBC C&W item is now available on-line at this link.

When the whole show is available to "listen again" there will be some interesting comments to hear, including someone reading out the alternative number for BBC Coventry & Warwickshire phone-ins, looked up live (with the assistance of the presenter) on www.SayNoTo0870.com.
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CJT-80
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Re: GPs in South Yorkshire (and other areas)
Reply #52 - Nov 1st, 2011 at 11:34pm
 
SilentCallsVictim wrote on Nov 1st, 2011 at 10:56am:
The BBC C&W item is now available on-line at this link.

When the whole show is available to "listen again" there will be some interesting comments to hear, including someone reading out the alternative number for BBC Coventry & Warwickshire phone-ins, looked up live (with the assistance of the presenter) on www.SayNoTo0870.com.


Interestingly this page: http://www.bbc.co.uk/coventry/programmes/formats/phoneins show's an 03 number.

Pity they cannot get the "rate" correct....
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CJT-80

Any comments made are my own and are not those of SayNoTo0870.com
 
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SilentCallsVictim
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Re: GPs in areas of England
Reply #53 - Nov 2nd, 2011 at 3:49pm
 
SilentCallsVictim wrote on Nov 1st, 2011 at 10:56am:
The BBC C&W item is now available on-line at this link.

In addition to that referred to above, members maybe interested to listen to the following further excerpts from the Annie Othen show from BBC Coventry and Warwickshire yesterday morning. These will remain available for the next 5 days only.

From To
23.44  ..... Comments from "Ron"
25.25  29.11  "Michael" giving an endorsement of SayNoTo0870 and a live demonstration of how
to get the alternative number for the BBC Coventry and Warwickshire phone-in line.
-----  
41.05  ..... Written-in comments from listeners
42.30  43.15  Annie Othen trying to justify the BBC using a 0845 number for phone-ins.
-----  
46.50  ..... A summary of the earlier item
49.15  56.47  Dr Tony Feltbower, a local GP, offering his explanation for why his
  colleagues (NOT his own practice) use 0844 telephone numbers.

There is much to criticise in each of the above, however I believe that they were all examples of individuals offering information and explanations to the best of their understanding.


The issue of BBC local radio and its use of 0845 numbers needs to be taken up in a separate thread.

I am very grateful to BBC local radio stations for picking up on the issue of the GPs and providing an opportunity to publicise it and discuss it with people in each locality. It is however unfortunate that this has to be handled a little carefully, restricted to coverage of 0844 numbers and even prevented from covering HMRC, DWP and NHS Direct, because listener comments have to be invited on a 0845 number.

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SilentCallsVictim
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Re: GPs in areas of England
Reply #54 - Nov 3rd, 2011 at 1:03am
 
Further points arising from the items covered above are being discussed in one of a number of parallel threads on MSE.

I have just added this comment, which, along with those which precede it, develop the matters being discussed here.
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Dave
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Warrington GP Surgery defies ban on rip-off number
Reply #55 - Nov 10th, 2011 at 1:43pm
 
Holes Lane and Manchester Road Surgeries in Warrington have just had a new telephone system installed. It is co-funded from calls from patients when they dial the new Business Rate number, 0844 387 8187.

It is just over 18 months since the new GMS contract came into effect:

"The Contractor shall not enter into, renew or extend a contract or other arrangement for telephone services unless it is satisfied that, having regard to the arrangement as a whole, persons will not pay more to make relevant calls to the practice than they would to make equivalent calls to a geographical number."

It was confirmed by Health Minister in Parliament in July of this year that "It is absolutely clear that there is no distinction between landlines, mobiles or payphones."

All mobile and payphone callers pay more. Most landline callers pay more too.
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« Last Edit: Nov 10th, 2011 at 2:41pm by Dave »  
 
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Re: GPs all over England (not just in South Yorkshire)
Reply #56 - Nov 10th, 2011 at 2:36pm
 
The 'illegality' is clear and well documented.

The questions which need answering now are who is the prosecuting authority and why aren't they doing their job?
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« Last Edit: Nov 10th, 2011 at 2:37pm by Heinz »  

After years of ignoring govt. guidelines & RIPPING OFF Council Tax payers using 0845 numbers, Essex County Council changed to 0345 numbers on 2 November 2015
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Dave
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Re: GPs all over England (not just in South Yorkshire)
Reply #57 - Nov 10th, 2011 at 2:54pm
 
Heinz wrote on Nov 10th, 2011 at 2:36pm:
The 'illegality' is clear and well documented.

Indeed. It is crystal clear!!


.............Here's another one that has changed in the last year. Westbourne Surgery in Huddersfield says on its homepage "Our telephone number has now changed. Although it is an 0844 number the cost is equivalent to a standard phone call. …"

The Internet Archive Wayback Machine of that page shows that it had a geographic number in September of last year, so has therefore changed sometime between then and now.
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« Last Edit: Nov 10th, 2011 at 2:55pm by Dave »  
 
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Lane End Medical Group, Edgware in breach of ban
Reply #58 - Nov 10th, 2011 at 3:35pm
 
Another one that changed in April of this year is Lane End Medical Group of Edgware.

Quote:
The practice telephone number will  be changing on 21 April to the one shown above. The main reason for the change is the need to upgrade our current telephone system so that we can improve patient access. We believe this area is of particular importance and was highlighted in the recent National GP Survey.

The system we have chosen uses the non-geographical 0844 numbers. It is the only way we can have a first rate telephone system and at the same time remembering there is no funding from the NHS. The new system will allow:-

  • Call queuing which will let you know how many people are ahead of you.
  • Allow direct access to the automatic patient booking system 24 hours a day.
  • Allow us to leave key healthcare messages for you to listen to.
  • Track and record calls to monitor our performance and to help training which will improve the service we offer.

    This system is fully compliant with all NHS regulations. The practice will not be making a profit from the calls you make to us.

This practice says that the only way to offer "first rate" service is by co-funding.

It doesn't stop at making its views known, but engages in the practice.... and at the same time claims that it is in compliance with its NHS contract.
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« Last Edit: Nov 10th, 2011 at 3:38pm by Dave »  
 
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Re: GPs all over England (not just in South Yorkshire)
Reply #59 - Nov 10th, 2011 at 4:25pm
 
Heinz wrote on Nov 10th, 2011 at 2:36pm:
The 'illegality' is clear and well documented.

The questions which need answering now are who is the prosecuting authority and why aren't they doing their job?

It is a civil matter. A breach of the contract between the GP and the local Primary Care Trust.

The PCTs are not doing their job essentially because they fail to recognise the responsibility which they hold on behalf of the people that they serve.

Some have claimed that they require advice and guidance from the Department of Health. Strictly speaking this should not be necessary, however in the light of such demonstrable failure, the Department of Health and its Ministers are seen to be neglecting their duty by not stepping in to ensure that contractual conditions which they imposed are effectively enforced.

The BMA carries a heavy responsibility for continuing to promote its support for co-payment after this was rejected following the public consultation. It has also issued guidance to its members intended to circumvent the duty imposed on them by the contract revisions and to mislead PCTs.

Daisy Group is understood to be still circulating letters which misrepresent the position of the Department of Health, by suggesting that it has been granted a competence to make a determination about compliance with the terms of the GP's NHS contract.
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