My Docters surgery has changed there number to a 0844 number and as i pay my phone provider to make free calls i now have to pay to call my Doctor. Does anyone know of an altenative number. The address is Lister House Surgery, The Common, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL10 ONL. there telephone number is now 08445769870. Thanks if anyone can help. :-/

Please read this comment - this is about the only way we know (at present) to find alternative numbers for surgeries that have set up 0844 numbers.

When did it change?

The surgery's website gives 01707 268811 and 01707 268822.

Look up their website. No mention of 0844. Try 01707268822 .
If they have moved to an 0844 number, bombard the local press and TV with details of costs, etc. These doctors are earning £100K per year and shouldn't be raising extra funds from patients.

The telephone numbers 01707 268811/22 both have network redirection messages to the 0844 number. The fax number, 01707 263990, is now not recognised with no redirection message whatsoever.

The practice's says that patients should notify them of any change of address or telephone number. Yet they apparently don't consider it necessary to update the website.

When did they change this number and how did they notify you? If it's recent, then I'd be very interested to learn more, what with the recent DH consultation.

Oh dear, Oh dear, Oh dear

The NHS choices entry for this practice shows the 0844 number and an updated date of 26/10/2007. A copy of the equivalent page that was taken on 3 March 2008 (in the course of preparing the information found here) shows the 01707 number.

This could imply (although there is no certainty) that the change to 0844 was made after the warning issued by the health minister on 21 January 2008.


Quote:

I also caution such practices that as the Government are consistently focusing on the issue and will begin a serious evidence-gathering process, that might lead in the not-too-distant future to even stronger guidance on what will be expected of GPs and associated professionals. (Hansard 21 Jan 2008 Col 1334)

This was a clear warning about the potential consequences of the forthcoming ban on use of revenue sharing numbers in the NHS. Practices that were actively encouraged to adopt 0844 numbers by their PCTs some years ago must accept their responsibilities, as they rightly boast of their independence. One may however acknowledge that they could have some grounds for moaning. These more recent cases will deserve no sympathy whatsoever.

(The "surgery website" is well out of date as it refers to Welwyn and Hatfield PCT, which ceased to exist in October 2006).