Barbara wrote on Jul 15^th, 2011 at 4:03pm:

This of course raises a very interesting point.

Like his professional colleagues, Dr Taylor may well be an excellent clinician. We do not expect our physicians to be experts in matters of business, nor do we expect accountants to be experts in matters of medicine. (We expect more of GP practice managers than they commonly deliver - but that is another point.)

The government's decision to place responsibility for secondary care commissioning (i.e. hospital and other health treatment) in the hands of GP-led Clinical Commissioning Groups (formerly known as GP consortia) implies an assumption that clinicians have the necessary business acumen to manage very large budgets and engage in effective negotiation with providers (particular those from the private sector). The need for clinical input to commissioning decisions so that optimum clinical outcomes can be properly considered when allocating scarce financial resources is obvious and vital. One cannot however dismiss the need for proper balanced decision making considering all factors. Clinicians are trained to take the narrow view, considering the patient in front of them at the time and focussing on whatever speciality they may have chosen to pursue. They also are inclined to leave others to worry about financial and commercial issues so as not to distort their clinical judgement.

To leave the allocation of large sums of money to clinicians at a time when its most efficient use is recognised to be of the greatest priority seems somewhat ill-judged. The motivation of those who step forward to accept this responsibility with enthusiasm has to be questioned.

I am not actually that worried that Dr Taylor does not understand telephony and charges. I am concerned that he chooses, or is required, to get into issues outside the area of his competence. It is for pretending authority when speaking nonsense that he is fully worthy of criticism. I am delighted that he has withdrawn from the argument, and hope that he is now considering the situation properly.

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On a simple point of fact. It is cleared proved that the geographic number is able to accommodate multiple calls and hold them in a queue - Dr Taylor was quite wrong to imply that this could not be done. The non-geographic number may however be equipped to "stack" an unlimited number of calls if the capacity of the geographic number is exceeded.

"Surgery Line" addresses the problem of inadequate queuing capability by a solution that employs features that are rarely required and thereby not cost effective. It deals with the cost issue by taking advantage of the fact that as well as these features always being available on non-geographic numbers, so is revenue sharing! Misrepresentation of the cost of calling 084 numbers has enabled this solution to be widely adopted.

If one accepts that call queuing can exist at two levels, with the secondary level being referred to as "stacking", then we have a serious misrepresentation from Dr Taylor, but one that may contain an insignificant element of truth. Just because there are many misrepresentations and inaccuracies and there is no question that this practice is in breach of its NHS contract, it does not necessarily follow that the availability of network queueing on non-geographic numbers must be a fallacy.

As campaigners, we have all we need to win this war without having to try to prove that network queueing does not exist. If our case were seen to hinge on such an argument then we may find ourselves losing a battle that undermines the campaign.

I do hope that the surgery will not come back at some point to admit that the geographic number can handle a small queue, but not enough to cope with the Monday morning rush. If it does then this will not make the slightest difference to its breach of the terms of its contract to provide NHS services.

With my notes of caution recorded, I applaud the efforts of SayNoTo0870 in further exposing this case of a breach of the terms of the GP NHS contract. Let us hope that the media coverage leads, as it must, to the withdrawal of the 0844 number.

BBC North West Tonight will be covering the story - on air at 6.30 this evening.

Contributions from familiar stars from the "The Apprentice" and elsewhere can be expected.

The programme should be available to view by all at this link from some time this evening until 6.30 p.m. tomorrow.

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The North West Tonight item has been covered by this media release, with links to the recording.

@ SCV nice to see you on TV if only for a brief few moments,

@ loddon - North West Tonight can be contacted via e-mail nwt@bbc.co.uk, might be worth pointing out the truths.

It seems the BMA needs to get it's facts straight!

SilentCallsVictim wrote on Aug 3^rd, 2011 at 11:34am:
What a despicable individual (Riley, not the well known campaigner), showcasing corporate Britain at its worst. What I find even more remarkable is the abject failure of any authoritative body to enforce the DH contractual requirements; after all, the non adherence is easy to demonstrate - it is not like proving Fermat's last theorem or anything of any complexity. If this was happening here, this would be in front of the courts before one could say zero-eight-four-four; indeed I would assume that an individual would have an indisputable case if it was brought before an English or other court. The known liars, NEG, are simply making too much out of this scam, and I suspect, have the necessary influence to be able to prolong the exploitation. Is there anyone within HMG with sufficient testicles to enforce these requirements, or is it a typical civil service case of 'nowt to do with me, guv'?

Someone should have given Riley a Landline phone On Camera and said to him phone BT and ask them to make 0844 Inclusive on Anytime for instance, to show him up in Public - We all know the result but lots out there dont realise the costs yet - my Neighbour didnt until I pointed it out on her Bill - when Riley and PCTs say Patients should take it up with their Telecom but we all know it is just NEG SPEAK and lies but lots out there dont

I have now got Anytime and no mobiles Plan and as Neighbourhood Watch Local Co-ordinator wanted a Special Police Mobile included in my Plan, because of the local Anti-social Youths if a Tenant is having a problem they phone me and I phone for them to the 'Mobile in a Police Car ' and they are there in minutes and I am given feed back to pass back so the Tenant is not seen to have any connection - but would BT include that Special Number NO

Why do Interviewers never ask the RIGHT questions - not properly researched or paying lip service on orders from above or just plain cant be bothered ?

Pity Robin Day isnt alive today he used to tear apart Scammers on air - it was a joy to see them sqirm - he would have loved to have a go at Riley - I think he could have made him admit that Surgery Line was mis-sold and made him look 2 ins. high     Would do his Business no good to be shown as having mis-sold Surgery Line - Banks had to payback for mis-selling why not him ?

Isnt there anything Trading Standards can do regarding being mis-sold ?

On one of David's Blogs links when GPs were told to stop using 0870 in 2005 they were told to get 0844 or 0845 lo-call why wasn't the MOH or BMA or who-ever told then that it was wrong - we wouldn't still be on it now  

I have finally corrected an omission by acknowledging that our National Health Service does include Northern Ireland.

My database of GPs has been extended to now cover all of the UK.

Dave, to your list you can add Utility Warehouse/Telecom Plus!   They also charge more for 0845/0844 & exclude these from ANytime packages.