Hi Derrick

Very Good Suggestion - but rather that deregister would it not be better for the patients to contact their practice in writing expressing their grievances and maybe suggest to other patients that they do the same maybe get up a petition. I think if enough letters landed on the GPs desk they would sit up and listen.

I am now going to contact my G.P. and let him know why I have left.

Baz

HOUSE OF COMMONS ADJOURNMENT DEBATE
0844 REVENUE SHARING TELEPHONE NUMBERS
MONDAY 21 JANUARY 2008

Graham Stuart MP will introduce a debate on this topic at the end of today’s sitting in the Commons chamber.

This will commence after any 10:00 pm divisions at the conclusion of the debate on Europe.

The debate will last for 30 minutes. Mr Stuart may take interventions from other members. A minister will reply on behalf of the government.

This is simply a discussion; the only vote will be “that this house do now adjourn”.


The debate will be broadcast by BBC Parliament and by Parliament Live

A record will be found in Hansard from 8:00 am on Tuesday morning

Members may wish join efforts to encourage participation by MPs and coverage by the media.

Links to the published proceedings will be published in the Parliamentary update thread.

http://db.cornwall.gov.uk/documents/download.aspx?doc=277751

CORNWALL COUNTY COUNCIL

Not Confidential                        

HEALTH AND ADULT SOCIAL CARE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

21 January 2008 Agenda No. 8

CORNWALL AND ISLES OF SCILLY PRIMARY CARE TRUST – USE OF 0844 TELEPHONE NUMBERS BY GP SURGERIES 

RECOMMENDATION

The Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee is asked to note the contents of the Report.

[...]

Cornwall and 0844 use by GPs 

4.1 There has been considerable media debate regarding the use of 0844 (non-geographic) telephone numbers by GP practices (see Appendices 1 - 3 for examples). 

4.2 In Cornwall there are currently 6 (Main Surgery) GP practices using 0844 numbers:

Pelynt Surgery  Branch Surgery  Pelynt, Looe
Drs Fagg,Palmer,Brewer,Goss,Roy,Davies & Geoffrey Main Surgery Polperro, Looe 
Drs Jackson, Charlton, Webster-Harrison, Booth & Rae Main Surgery  Portview Surgery, Saltash 
Drs Ingle, Kersh, Macready, Stephens, Wight, Randell Main Surgery Narrowcliff, Newquay 
The Rame Group Practice Main Surgery Cawsand, Torpoint (Choice of 01 or 02 number in addition to the 0844)
Drs Middleton, Hamilton, Waldron & Partington Main Surgery Par, Polruan Fowey 
Neetside Surgery Main Surgery Bude 

4.3 On 27 November 2007 the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly PCT issued a press release which stated: 

“We feel strongly that patients should not pay higher than normal rates to call GP practices to access local health services. We will discuss this issue with the practices concerned because this is not in line with Department of Health guidance. As a Trust we aim to provide equitable access to services and do not encourage practices which discriminate based on an individual’s financial situation or otherwise.”

4.4 The PCT have committed to ensuring all practices are fully aware of the contents of the Department of Health letter to PCT Chief Executives (Appendix 4) and subsequent correspondence. The PCT will explore reverting to a geographic or ‘03’ with practices who currently use 0844 numbers. The PCT are aware, however, that practices may be tied into contracts with telephone systems suppliers which make an early change to a geographic number unrealistic or have a cost implication.

4.5 The PCT will explore with practices, timescales and cost implications of moving from an 0844 number to a geographic code or an ‘03’ number. This will be completed by 31 January 2008.

Proposals

This report was brought to the Committee at the request of Members. Members are therefore asked to consider whether the report and responses from Cornwall and Isles of Scilly PCT provide adequate reassurance that the issue is being tackled locally or whether further work/ reports are required. 

OPTIONS

The Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee could:
(i) note the report, or

(ii) make recommendations as to how this issue could be pursued with the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly PCT.

RESOURCES

The adoption of 0844 numbers by GPs and any cost implications which arise as a result of any changes would need to be addressed by the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly PCT. 

CONSULTATION/ROUTE 
Public/Other Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Primary Care Trust
Local Member(s)                      
     
    Anticipated Date
Panel    
Committee HASCOSC 21 January 2008 
Executive No   
Council No   

CONCLUSION

The Committee is requested to receive the report and consider whether any further action is required by the Committee.

[...]

http://www.derbycitypct.nhs.uk/content/Item%203%20TB%20minutes%206%20Dec%2007.pd...

TRUST BOARD MEETING
6th December 2007
PUBLIC SESSION MINUTES

Trust Board Meeting 3rd January 2008
Agenda item number 3

DERBY CITY PCT

[...]

208.07
Any other Business
208.07.01 0844 Telephone numbers
The question of use by practices of 0844 telephone numbers was raised. Ms Blackshaw reported that a review of use of 0844 numbers was currently taking place, but initial findings seemed to show that benefits in terms of access for patients outweighed the marginally higher cost of such calls. Practices did not benefit financially from the use of 0844 numbers. The review report will be brought to the Board on completion.
Kathryn Blackshaw

[...]

http://www.barnsleypct.nhs.uk/download.asp?DLID=280

Barnsley LMC Newsletter

[...]

Use of Non-Geographical (‘084’) Telephone Numbers
There have been numerous newspaper articles recently complaining about GPs making
money from 0844 telephone numbers. This is particularly galling as there are many
other NHS services (NHS Direct for one, as well as many hospitals) and other public
services (like the police) that are not using local rate numbers which have not been
picked up by the press.

Firstly, it seems unacceptable that practices be expected to move away from 084
numbers when, only a year ago, practices were encouraged to move to these numbers
when the use of premium rate numbers was banned. Secondly, whilst we fully support
the view that practices should not seek to make significant financial gains from their
telephone systems, there is no evidence to suggest that using an 084 number allows
practices to do this. In fact, many practices using 084 numbers are often able to deal
with their calls more efficiently and quickly, therefore costing patients less overall.

[...]

bazzerfewi wrote on Jan 31^st, 2008 at 5:44am:


Sadly, it was the Department of Health and many PCTs! This is why they are slow to admit their mistake, because this would involve accepting at least some moral responsibility to help GPs buy themselves out of their telephone service contracts.

bazzerfewi wrote on Jan 31^st, 2008 at 5:44am:

The problem here, as shown by a number of the recent postings, is that NHS patients are being seen as consumers who should not be exploited by GPs to provide excess profit. It is seen as OK for patients to pay if they get "value for money".

This reasonable approach for a business situation IS TOTALLY WRONG in the context of the NHS.

The NHS does not provide "value for money" to patients using its services. It is funded through progressive taxation and provided according to need. Some pay a lot a get little, some pay little and get a lot. That is how it works, many (but not all) of us believe that this is how it should be. Consumerism, which I fully support in the commercial field, cannot apply to public services in general, the NHS in particular.

David

http://www.lcrpct.nhs.uk/site/Internet/PCTStructure/BoardMeetings/2008/0/Paper%2...

LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY AND RUTLAND PRIMARY CARE TRUST
REPORT TO THE TRUST BOARD
10 JANUARY 2008
Tile of the report:
Report from the Professional Executive Committee Chairman
Report by:
Dr C Trzcinski, PEC Chairman
Presented by:
Dr C Trzcinski, PEC Chairman

Summary of key points:

[...]

Premium rate (0845 or 0844) phone numbers

[...]

6. Premium rate (0845 or 0844) phone numbers

The overview and scrutiny committee of the county council has raised concerns over the use of the above telephone numbers by GP surgeries. Following discussion the PEC agreed that national policy should be followed on the issue which is that each practice should decide if they will use these numbers, but no profit should be made. GPs should consider using the 03 numbering range, which were introduced earlier this year.

[...]