Does anyone have an alternative number for the NHS "Choose and Book" call centre (which, I am told, is in Milton Keynes)? It's the 0845 608 8888 number you now have to use when you need to book an appointment with a hospital consultant via your local GP surgery. I cannot find an alternative number on the relevant NHS websites.

All suggestions gratefully received!

This number is used for NHS Choose and Book in some areas.  I live in Wirral and they are now advising poeple to call this number to book an appointment.  If you call the 0845 here, you get put through to Chattam.

So, does anyone know the 01634 number that this is mapped to?  Strange, but true!

Thanks.

jimbo2005 wrote on Dec 20^th, 2007 at 7:19pm:

This number is used for NHS Choose and Book in some areas.  I live in Wirral and they are now advising poeple to call this number to book an appointment.  If you call the 0845 here, you get put through to Chattam.

How do you know the location? The existing post on Choose & Book says it's in Milton Keynes. Any idea of an address, fax number etc?

Someone from work rung the NHS choose and book and started talking about making an appoinment but was stopped dead in their tracks when it turned out that they had to provide the full location (including town/city) rather than just local area.  This would seem to indicate that more than one call centre is used and you may not always end up being transferred to your own local call centre especially as there may not be one.

I'm guessing NHS Choose and Book call centres are shared with services and their call centres.

Personally, I'd do it online to save the cost of the phone call.  Once booked online then you can probably get away with ringing the actual place itself if you need to cancel or something.

I have looked in the database and cant find any numbers saying for Nottingham area, I even tried a few just in case but they were not the right ones

All I know is the number is the same as the others

0845 60 88 88 8

If you have a BT land line.........



Calls to 0845 and 0870 numbers are now 'free' with BT depending on your Calling Plan (free at the weekends with the Unlimited Weekend Plan; during the evening and at the weekend with the Unlimited Evening and Weekend Plan and anytime with the Unlimited Anytime Plan).

Thankyou sherbert but I am with Virgin Media

Go to

http://www.google.co.uk/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-GB%3Aofficial&channel=s&hl=en&q=NHS-+Choose+and+book+appointments+Nottingham&meta=&btnG=Google+Search

then click on the

[DOC]
Choose and Book Programme Board

If you scroll down that attachment you will see loads of telephone numbers that may be of help.

Thankyou again Sherbert there was no numbers there that were correct though unfortunately. I even called the dept at the hospital direct and they said I have to go through choose and book. I had to use the 0845 for the 4th time and it took them asges to look into things and its still not sorted so I will still have to keep ringing them its something I cannot do online.

So still looking if anyone knows the number

The alternative number for NHS Choose and Book appointments for Bury and Oldham General is shown as 01616551544. This number does not include Oldham. I have been referred back to the 08456088888 number.  

0161 622 6430   This is the number for complaints they may put you through if you say 0845 number are barred from your phone otherwise try these below let me know how you get on
0161 622 6500
0161 622 6577
0161 622 6617
0161 622 6577
0800 389 8679

falcon10 wrote on Mar 26^th, 2010 at 10:52am:

The alternative number for NHS Choose and Book appointments for Bury and Oldham General is shown as 01616551544. This number does not include Oldham. I have been referred back to the 08456088888 number.

Hi and welcome to SAYNOTO0870.COM. Thanks for the feedback; I've removed reference to Oldham in the entry you referred to and moved it to the verified listings.

Hi there!

With this NHS Choose and Book, it appears that the hospitals use the same number: 0845 60 88 88 8

How is it possible to find out where these numbers terminate with a geographic number, in particular for Ipswich, Suffolk?

James Bond

jamesbond wrote on Apr 4^th, 2010 at 3:49pm:

With this NHS Choose and Book, it appears that the hospitals use the same number: 0845 60 88 88 8 How is it possible to find out where these numbers terminate with a geographic number, in particular for Ipswich, Suffolk?

I believe that the Choose and Book line is run by NHS Direct NHS Trust. I presume that it is a centralised service where every call centre taking calls can deal with every location. With everything being computerised, then I see no reason why calls for patients in a particular area must be dealt with at particular location(s).

I used to call 01908 259800 and had no problem booking through this number.

I also called 2 hospitals directly and had no problem.

Today I followed the same procedure. Firstly got a recorded message directing me to 0845 6088 88 8.

I then called my hospital directly. The man in the booking office spoke very little English but the same 0845 number rolled of his tongue like water on a duck's back.

I am of the belief that there has been an internal staff directive regarding the use of this number.

Is anyone aware of a recent change of telephone contracts withing the NHS? Maybe this directive is part of the clause when obtaining free or subsidised services?

I AM ANGRY AND SERIOUSLY ON THIS CASE!!!!!

Call Central Complaints Line on 01908 259896 and the will book it for you.

Might have to leave a message initially but they do call back.

Hope this is useful.

I've just tried the complaints number and they say it's for complaints only and referred me back to the 0845 number. I left a message on the other number on here and was called back to say the same thing   :-[

NHS Choose and Book has now switched from 0845 608 8888 to 0345 608 8888.