Hello Sharon

I'm afraid I can't offer any advice on what it might be because it's a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack. It could be any one of many 01628 numbers, or other numbers for that matter. 

A Google reveals quite a few surgeries with numbers starting 0844 477. This prefix was allocated to Opal Telecom, a part of Carphone Warehouse Group.

This page mentions a surgery in Watford who adopted a nearby 0844 number earlier this year. It says that it is using Network Europe Group Plc's (NEG) Surgery Line service. More links to discussion on 084/087 numbers in the NHS can be found here. 

You may also be interested in the thread for Dr Fry & Partner Surgery, Chislehurst, Kent which operates an 0844 number. See also 0844 confusion which talks about the costs of these numbers.

askabfab wrote on Apr 21^st, 2013 at 8:25pm:


Your best bet is to file a formal complaint about the continued use of the 0844 number by this GP Practice with both its own Practice Manager and also with NHS England that controls funding etc for the surgery as continued use of 0844 numbers by a doctor's surgery is now meant to be forbidden under the terms of the contract between the NHS and these GP Practices.

Unfortunately the lethargic PCTs' have often been very slow to take punitive action against these GP practices for deliberately sticking two fingers up at their own rules.  Imagine what would happen to us if we did not the same by not renewing our tv licence or car road tax disc or did not file our annual tax return with HMRC.

To file a complaint about this practice's continue breach of its contract with NHS England file a complaint with them and then when you are unhappy with the response take it to the Parliamentary & Health Service Ombudsman.  As the Ombudsman uses an 0300 phone number he should understand the point you are trying to make.

I would also set up a personal appointment with the Practice Manager of this Practice to make sure they realise your seriousness about the issue and tell them you are going to complain to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman if they continue to refuse to provide a geographic alternative phone number.