This is astonishing, years after 0845 numbers have been outlawed for these purposes. Plus garbled statement of costs of calling.

https://www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk/contactus/

This has been an issue of campaigning focus for many years.

Suggestions of an immediate switch to alternative number have been rejected on the basis that this would cause confusion in the light of the imminent switch to 111. The fair telecoms campaign has always disagreed with this argument.

The roll out of the switch to the 111 service (which is slightly different in operation, it is not just a change of number) is progressing, albeit more slowly than one would wish.
All we can do at this stage is to press for this to be competed with all possible speed.

That's not the only premium rate 0845 number still in use by NHS services in Wales.

There's also this one.
https://www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk/LocalServices/ViewLocalService.aspx?id=7686
http://www.wellbeingthroughwork.org.uk/

While NHS Direct Wales incorrectly describes their 0845 4647 number as "local rate" (something that hasn't been true since 2004), the Wellbeing service does far worse with 0845 601 7556 as they incorrectly describe it as "FREEPHONE" (something that has NEVER been true).

Do Ofcom rules not apply west of Offa's d**e?

PS: The asterisks were put there by the forum software. Scunthorpe effect.

allegro wrote on Feb 16^th, 2020 at 7:45am:

Do Ofcom rules not apply west of Offa's d**e?

Indeed they do.

Anyone seriously concerned about lack of compliance is probably best advised to seek enforcement action by the ASA.
Alternatively, the offender could be contacted to advise them of their error and to encourage a switch to an appropriate number.
Neither are likely to be prompted by a posting to this forum. Doing so can however be a useful way of drawing cases to the attention of those who campaign on these issues and those who are keen to see how much work there is left to do.