Can we please see a cpy of your post before it was edited by you?

Nothing will be gained by telling lies or pretending that other people are idiots.

It defeats the cause.

Goodnight

Juby

Another GP/NEG article, this time from the Salford Advertiser: http://www.salfordadvertiser.co.uk/news/index/articles/article_id=13396.html

Nice headline too - Calls to GP surgeries charged at chatline rate.

>>>>

CALLS to two doctor’s surgeries in Salford can now cost nearly as much as phoning premium rate chat lines.

Patients wanting to book appointments or order repeat prescriptions at Nelson Fold Practice in Pendlebury and Dr Ahuja Surgery in Little Hulton must now ring an 0870 number costing as much as 8p a minute - over twice as much as the previous 0161 local rate numbers.

Outraged residents have labelled the move a “charge on the sick” and accused surgeries of profiting from their patients.

According to Ofcom, the government’s communications watchdog, calling 0870 numbers can cost only slightly less than ringing some 09-number chat lines which charge 10p a minute.

One patient at Nelson Fold who asked not to be identified said: “It’s outrageous. Patients are basically being charged for being sick. Patients would be better off walking round, but what if they’re too sick or elderly so they can’t?

“If it doesn’t cost enough already with prescription prices we are now being charged before we even get examined. Profiting from patients is just sick. As far as I know we weren’t consulted on this.”

A spokesman for Nelson Fold Practice on Bolton Road, said the move was a result of a patient survey and patients benefited from the new number.

When asked if patients now paid more, the spokesman said: “Yes and no. The call rate is slightly higher but we have found that overall call lengths are shorter so calls can actually cost less.

“We’ve done this in response to our patient survey that highlighted a major difficulty with our previous telephone system. This new system is much more versatile to help manage patient enquiries and requests.

“We would never exploit our patients. It was done to improve our service for them. We chose this system because of its functionality and installation set up costs. It also allows patients to contact the out-of-hours service and to cancel appointments when the surgery is closed.”

The ‘Surgery Line’ system was created by NEG plc based in Essex and costs between £16,000 and £20,000 to install. The money is paid back from patient call charges and the surgery apparently makes no profit.

Scott Russell, product development director for NEG plc, said: “We found 90 per cent of doctor’s surgeries were engaged between 9am and 10.15am, but Surgery Line gets rid of this problem with the options available.

“Patients cannot be on hold longer than five minutes. The surgeries make no money from the system.”

According to the list of doctors surgeries in Salford supplied by NHS Direct, only Nelson Fold and Dr Ahuja have 0870 numbers. Dr Ahuja’s Surgery was unavailable for comment.

A spokesman for Salford PCT said: “The decision on whether or not to use national rate numbers remains at the discretion of GPs.”

More media coverage.

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/capitalcity/news/tm_objectid=15205197&method=full...

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Doctors caught up in phoneline profit row Feb 18 2005
 
DOCTORS have been accused of making profits from their NHS patients by using a special phone number that collects money from every call to their surgery.

A GP surgery in Cardiff is the first in the city to use the new money making system but other GPs are likely to follow.

Patient watchdogs are angry at the move and demand that doctors stick with the traditional local phone lines.

The use of the 0870 phone line to GP surgeries has already caused fury in England with the Government stepping in and warning doctors they want it stopped.

The surgery at the centre of the row in Cardiff is the Cathays Surgery in Cathays Terrace - a popular medical centre for students at Cardiff University.

Stephen Allen, the GP watchdog for Cardiff Community Health Council, said: "We are very unhappy about the use of these phone lines. It's the patients that are paying and a very bad move by GPs."

I hope that this is what we have been waiting for. Whilst I sympathise with those who have to ring their sugery on 084/087, it certainly gives the whole scam media coverage.

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I wonder if anybody would care to assess what the costs of an exchange would be?

I'm a little bit out of touch, (by approx 20 years) but I do know that a typical doctors' surgery could handle the calls with a "key and lamp" unit and three lines. (PABX)

Given that the technology has risen in inverse proportion to the cost, I would estimate that at about £600 plus VAT would equip the average doctors' surgery.

Any old engineers out there?

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It's the little old lady with the arthritic hands who can't afford her own telephone that I'm imagining ........

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If this is their ethical judgement then I would not also trust the medical judgement of the doctors in question.

I cannot imagine any local councillor or MP in the country considering using one of these numbers because they are actutely sensitive to public opinion.

This action by doctors only confirms my worst fears about many doctors who effectively do not feel they are in a competitive market for customers and treat many of them like prison inmates than a valued source of business.

If Ofcom don't totally shut down 084/087 revenue sharing, when they report back in a few weeks time, and sling it all on to 09 with ICSTIS they are even more spineless, student and incompetent than I had actually imagined possible.

Network Europe Group PLC  (NEG) has a web site.

www.negplc.com