Dave wrote on Apr 9^th, 2008 at 9:58am:



40% of what? I mean if they had one participent in the old survey and two in the new one and the two voted in favour that is a big percentage increase, so numbers would have been more helpful than percentages.

Keith wrote on Apr 17^th, 2008 at 2:54pm:


The main excuse I have seen used by the more slime faced GPs who work at surgeries who unashamdedly use 0844 numbers is that they are not responsible for their patients when they are overseas and thus there is no need to expect the patient to contact them and it is not part of the GP contract etc, etc and thus having and 0870 access for overseas is not covered by DoH rules but merely an additional facility they choose to provide for patient convenience outside their contracts with the PCT etc, etc.  The counter argument is that this is bunkum and that if you are in a serious road accident overseas and unconscious and anyone else travelling with you is unconscious or dead they need urgent access to your medical records to know any forms of treatment they must avoid or things you are allergic to etc, etc.  I don't know how UK NHS hospitals tackle this after someone comes in from a serious RTA unconscious?  Presumably the out of hours emergency number these GP practices have for a group of surgeries (also 0845 or 0870 potentially) does have computer access to patient records for the practice if a hospital calls.  Or are they still all on paper in filing cabinets.  We know there is a plan for a national online medical records facility but it is very controversial (privacy issues) and not yet rolled out.  Bottom line is that there are reasons why overseas medical services might need to legitimately contact your doctor.  Doctor get out - this is not part of the GP contract with the NHS I expect but only an extra courtesy facility.

Quote:


This is what might make all the difference.  Unfortunately due to the total ineptitude of Ofcom in promoting 03 numbers or ever telling the public that 084/7 numbers are excluded from free/bundled call plans to 01/02 numbers on fixed line/mobile  most of these numpties in the PCTs seem to be clueless and themselves wrongly genuinely believe 0845 and 0870 are normal priced calls.  Financial illiteracy often seems to be a prime qualifying factor for working at a PCT.

sherbert wrote on Apr 17^th, 2008 at 4:04pm:


I am assuming that this is a company and not some poor girl sitting by the phone from 6pm - 7am hehe

Keith wrote on Apr 17^th, 2008 at 4:12pm:

A cynic would say they appear to have a 'fob off complaints' function.
Quote:


See HERE.

Keith wrote on Apr 17^th, 2008 at 4:12pm:

In my experience, some of it very personal, PALS personnel are, like most of those who work in the NHS, genuinely committed to do all they can to help patients on a personal basis. In their case it is with the resolution of issues that patients and the public have with health treatment. They work for the trusts and so have a duty to resolve and dilute complaints, rather than invariably escalating them to cause a review of policy.

We have to face the fact that there is widespread misunderstanding and ignorance about NGNs. Not all of this can be blamed directly on those who show it. I see part of our role as being friendly educators of those who are simply misinformed, whilst we fiercely criticise those who should know better. It is sometimes difficult to know which is appropriate and we have to choose on which side to risk erring. Sometimes we may disagree on the latter point.

http://www.oadby-wigston.gov.uk/Home/Councillors%20and%20Committees/Agenda%20and...

MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE COUNCIL HELD AT THE COUNCIL OFFICES, WIGSTON
ON 18 SEPTEMBER 2007

Present: Councillor J Kaufman – Mayor
Councillor Mrs J M Gore – Deputy Mayor
Councillors: L A Bentley, T S Biring, G A Boulter, J W Boyce, Mrs L M
Broadley, K M A Brown, M O Carrara, M H Charlesworth, Mrs E M
Connell, Ms C L Edmonston, D A Gamble, C S Gore, M Griffiths, P A
Hings, Mrs H E Loydall, K J Loydall, R E R Morris, Mrs S B Morris, S M
Rizvi, P Swift, Mrs R I Sylvester and J Vickerstaff (22)
Mrs P Glasse (Independent Member – Standards Committee) also
attended the meeting.
Officers in Attendance: Mrs A Court, P Johnson, G Waterfield, Mrs S
Cairns, S Lucas and Mrs W Back
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs S A
Dickinson and Mrs L Eaton

[...]

43. NOTICE OF MOTION BY THE MAYOR
The Council considered a Notice of Motion submitted by the Mayor in the following
terms;

“this Council deplores the use of 0844 and other premium rate telephone numbers
used by some of the local NHS medical practices in the Borough (causing additional
and unnecessary expense to patients, whilst at the same time being a source of
income to the medical practice). It calls for the local Primary Care Trust (PCT) to use
its powers and influence to bring an end to this disgraceful practice.

Officers are asked to write to their local PCT in the terms above and to ask their local
Member of Parliament to take this up with the appropriate Government Ministers and
to draw this to the attention of the Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Spokesperson and
the Local Government Association’. The Mayor then spoke in support of this motion
and read out to the meeting an article which formed part of a petition being sent to 10
Downing Street.”

The Mayor moved the motion, which was duly seconded by Councillor J W Boyce.

RESOLVED: That:
(1) The motion be agreed;
(2) If a negative response is received, then this
matter be placed before the Council’s
Overview and Scrutiny Panel for
consideration, and;
(3) This Council also write to Leicestershire
County Council to take up this matter as well.

[...]

>>

http://www.birminghammail.net/news/birmingham-news/2008/04/25/sickening-price-of...

Sickening price of call to GP
Apr 25 2008 By Alison Dayani

<<
CAMPAIGNERS fighting to stop expensive 0844 phone numbers being used by GP surgeries have rapped Birmingham health bosses for dragging their feet.

In December 2006 the Department of Health criticised the use of the numbers, which cost a higher fee of 5p a minute, saying patients should not be "exploited".

Birmingham-born campaigner David Hickson, who previously led a campaign to stop companies making "silent" telemarketing calls, said he wanted more action, now.

"GPs must use the best technology and systems available to provide the best possible service to patients within their budget.

"Service improvements cannot be used as an excuse for departing from the fundamental principle that NHS services are provided free at the point of need."

The British Medical Association claims practices are able to deal with more calls, more efficiently through the 0844 number because it accesses more modern telecom systems.

A spokesman for Heart of Birmingham Primary Care Trust said: "We have received advice from the Department of Health on the use of 0844 and 0845 numbers.

"Patients should not be expected to pay more than the cost of a local call. But patients will find one number change easier to handle than two in short order so we have not yet insisted that services act on this guidance."

Surgeries that use 0844 phone numbers in Birmingham and north Solihull include Fairway Surgery, Bordesley Green East, Yardley; Karis Medical Centre, Waterworks Road, Edgbaston; Tudor Practice, Tamworth Road, Sutton Coldfield; Kingshurst Medical Practice, Gilson Way, Kingshurst; Craig Croft Medical Centre, Castle Bromwich; Soho Health Centre, Louise Road, Handsworth; City Road Medical Centre, Edgbaston; Fernley Medical Centre, Stratford Road, Sparkhill; Enki Medical Practice, Terrace Road, Handsworth; Hobmoor Road Surgery, Yardley.
>>

SilentCallsVictim wrote on Apr 25^th, 2008 at 10:39pm:

Surely the good reason is so that the Prime Minister and his colleagues can then deny any direct ministerial responsibility for any inadequacies in the locally provided service.