NHS organisations will be banned from setting up new premium and national rate telephone numbers for patients contacting local services.
GP practices currently using national rate phone lines will be expected to switch to low rate numbers.

The move, which comes into effect from April, was announced on Thurdsay by Health Minister John Hutton.

Full details: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4293789.stm

So, NEG (who have bought numerous 0844 numbers in advance of this 'ban') win!

The 0844 numbers they will use will cost 5p per minute (at all times) to call and are therefore 66% MORE EXPENSIVE than a national rate call on BT (3p per minute during the day).

The 0870 numbers currently used cost from 7p to 10p per minute to call depending on the service provider the caller is using - at least 133% more expensive than a national rate call on BT (3p per minute during the day).

In fact, for those of us usiing 18866 to make any 01 or 02 call at any time for a total of 1p, the reduction to having to pay 5p per minute will be still be yet another stealth tax.

Roll on May 5th.

All that has happened is that one scam, 0870, has been replaced with another - 0844. The DOH simply doesn't "get it". Why can't these public servants understand this issue - it isn't *that* complex. 084 or 087 mean callers, nearly always, pay more. What should happen now is:

*Once 0844 is introduced, use FOI to request geographic equivalent;
*Point out to DOH that 0844 termination from overseas is difficult and often impossible and yes, people do contact GPs from abroad, and in certain circumstances, the inability to get through could have severe consequences;
*Get as much media exposure as possible, explain that people are still being ripped-off;
*Use the call-box rip-off aspect - this could be a useful tool to get rid of 0844;
*Keep campaigning against rip-off merchants such as NEG.

In addition to idb's points above:

• Weekend and evening rates to NEG's 0844 numbers will cost more than 0870. This will generate them extra revenue at those times.
• The 0844 numbers cost more to call from BT Payphones than 0870.
• Those on inclusive call packages will always have to pay to call these numbers.
• Some people, especially the elderly, may be confused by having to remember a new 11 digit number.

Now that the DoH has banned 0870 numbers for GPs but suggested that 0845 and 0844 numbers would be allowed, the tack should be changed.

GPs have until April to get rid of their 0870 numbers. They may have been duped by NEG but after all the publicity they probably have some understanding of the issues involved by now.  Pressure should be brought to bear on them revert to their old geographical numbers rather than change to 0845 or 0844.

0844 numbers are a jungle, call rates vary from 0.5p to 5p/min depending on what digits follow 0844.  There is little doubt that those GPs who signed up with NEG will try to use numbers with the top 5p/min rate at any time rate.

Apart from the cost there are two important concerns with 0845 and 0844 numbers:

1.
0870, 0845 or 0844 numbers cannot be called from a number of countries. Even from countries from which they can, not all telecom service providers are able to route these calls. This means that doctors attending to people who may have been involved in an accident or suffer illness while abroad may not be able to contact the person's GP.  The lack of access to medical records could be damaging or even life threatening to the patient concerned.   

2.
Patients, especially old people, on small fixed incomes may not have their own phone lines and may be forced to use payphones. Calls from payphones to a geographic 01 or 02 number cost 30p for 15 minutes.  An 8 minute call to an 0844 top rate number would cost £1.22 from a payphone.

For the record, BT payphone charges are:

01 or 02 numbers: 30p for 15 minutes

0845 and 0870 numbers: 10p connection charge + 10p for every 55 seconds

for the top rate 0844 numbers, e.g. 084441, 0844441, 0844443: 10p connection charge + 13.9p/min

Quote:

I'm not sure the payphone argument is such a strong one. If it's a call to book an appointment, it might only last a minute, so this could cost 20p on a non-geographical number, compared to 30p for a geographical call.

In this instance, the real rip-off is the BT payphone tariff. They claim 30p for 15 minutes is a good deal, while knowing very well that the vast majority of calls from payphones last less than a minute. It was the change in pricing of payphones that finally made me decide it's worth getting a mobile phone!

But if they do change to 0844, the increase in cost from payphones is certainly significant.

Today jrawle wrote:

I'm not sure the payphone argument is such a strong one. If it's a call to book an appointment, it might only last a minute, so this could cost 20p on a non-geographical number, compared to 30p for a geographical call.

From personal experience: a short while ago I called my GP on his new 0870 number and for 8 minutes I was listening alternately to music and a recorded message without the receptionist answering.  After 8 minutes I put the phone down

???