http://www.oxfordmail.net/display.var.1414452.0.high_cost_calls_cause_concern.php

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Watchdogs are concerned patients are being forced to use high cost phone lines to call their GP surgeries.

The Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust patient and public involvement forum (PPIF) said the use of 0844 numbers by family doctors was placing an "unfair financial burden" on pensioners, the chronically ill and the disabled.

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Earlier this year, the Oxford Mail highlighted the problem after pensioner William Hughes, 78, of Compton Drive, Abingdon, complained that a 14 minute call to his doctor at the Malthouse Surgery, had cost 63p.

Two years ago, the Government said 0844 numbers would replace premium and national rate numbers to ensure patients did not have to pay for expensive calls.

Mr Baldry said there was confusion about the price of calling the code, which while costing 5p a minute from a BT landline, could cost as much as 35p a minute from a mobile phone.

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One 0844 provider, Network Europe Group, said calls from the code cost about the same as calling a local BT number and should not increase if a patient phoned from a mobile.

Spokesman Alastair Campbell said the main advantage of the system was people calling their GPs did not have to spend time redialling after getting an engaged tone.

He added: "Sometimes, there maybe 20 people calling at a time, and with a BT number a GP would have to have about 20 lines into the surgery to eradicate this, which would be too expensive. With 0844 numbers, you can have as many lines as you like, so the patient can choose to wait or dial again later if it's not urgent.

[...]

Alison Brumfitt of Oxfordshire PCT, said: "0844 numbers are lo-call numbers and are in line with the Government's policy that GPs shouldn't use high rate numbers. If any patient gets their bill and finds they've been charged a premium rate by their surgery, they should contact us and we will look into it."
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Quote:

Spokesman Alastair Campbell said the main advantage of the system was people calling their GPs did not have to spend time redialling after getting an engaged tone. He added: "Sometimes, there maybe 20 people calling at a time, and with a BT number a GP would have to have about 20 lines into the surgery to eradicate this, which would be too expensive. With 0844 numbers, you can have as many lines as you like, so the patient can choose to wait or dial again later if it's not urgent.

I've heard Alister Campell spout some b@@@@@ks but that tops it all - any number can be pointed at a call handling system

Quote:

One 0844 provider, Network Europe Group, said calls from the code cost about the same as calling a local BT number and should not increase if a patient phoned from a mobile.

(1). For the average pensioner (using BT), a call to any 01/02 number would cost 3p per minute.  Calling one of NEG's SurgeryLine 0844 numbers costs 5p per minute.  So. 5p is "about the same" as 3p now!  Even pensioners can work out it's 66.66% more expensive.

(2). I wonder whether NEG could name a mobile network which charges standard BT rates for calling 0844 numbers - i.e. ½p, 1p, 2p, 3p, 4p or 5p per minute depending upon subsequent digits.

Quote:
Spokesman Alastair Campbell said the main advantage of the system was people calling their GPs did not have to spend time redialling after getting an engaged tone.

He added: "Sometimes, there maybe 20 people calling at a time, and with a BT number a GP would have to have about 20 lines into the surgery to eradicate this, which would be too expensive. With 0844 numbers, you can have as many lines as you like, so the patient can choose to wait or dial again later if it's not urgent.


I've heard Alister Campell spout some b@@@@@ks but that tops it all - any number can be pointed at a call handling system


You are quite right  -- the Brookside Practice near Reading  had call handling on their previous geographic (0118 ...) number which told you how many were in the queue in front of you every 30 seconds or so.   Now they are on 0844 supplied by NEG the system gives spurious timewasting messages instead.