http://www.rochdaleobserver.co.uk/news/s/222/222261_numbers_up_as_oap_fury_hits_...

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ANGRY pensioners have slammed a doctor’s surgery decision to install a 5p-a-minute phone system.

Patients have been ringing Littleborough Health Centre only to find it has replaced its old system with a special rate 0844 number.

The chairwoman of Littleborough Pensioners’ Association, Annelise Fellingham, says elderly people will suffer because of the change.

AdvertisementShe said: "There was no warning, I just rang last Thursday and found the number had changed.

"It doesn’t give you any warning about the cost – I later found out it would be 5p a minute.

"When I rang the surgery I found it took a few minutes to get through, so it would have cost a lot.

"As I understand it, one half of the money would go to the private firm that operates the system and the other would go to the surgery."

She added: "I think it is absolutely unacceptable.

"The pensioners who use the surgery should not have to pay any more to make appointments."

Councillor Peter Evans has also expressed concern and has vowed to investigate the claims.

He said: "I want to know whether this is a decision taken by the surgery or the Primary Care Trust and also whether it is following a national trend.

"I worry it will put people off visiting the doctor when they are in poor health."

Littleborough Health Centre refused to comment on the new phone number but said it would contact Mrs Fellingham.

A spokeswoman for Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Primary Care Trust said: "Last year health minister John Hutton banned health services from operating premium and national rate telephone numbers that charge patients over the odds.

"National rate telephone numbers start with an ‘087’ prefix. Premium rate telephone numbers start with the digits ‘09’.

"In accordance with NHS guidance health services can use numbers that offer patients a guaranteed low rate call such as ‘0844’ numbers like the one introduced by Littleborough Group Practice.

"The new 0844 charges patients local rates and is compliant with the relevant legislation and guidance."
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Yet more bullsht from an NHS spokesperson - what on earth does "guaranteed low rate call such as ‘0844’ numbers" mean in English?

The mission statement of the trust in question.
http://www.hmpct.nhs.uk/

is "Our purpose is to make sure everybody who lives in Heywood and Middleton has access to the right care in the right place, at the right time and to reduce health inequalities"

But fails to take into account that by not stopping/condoning the use of what is effectively  a low rate premium number they will be encouraging inequalities as people will be loath to ring it because of the extra cost of calling it. Particularly for those who have to use a payg mobile or a phonebox.

Yesterday we see official reports that the average earnings of a GP are now over £100,000 a year.  It is nice to see that the doctors of Rochdale can now make a little extra from patents by the use of the special rate 0844 telephone number - and officially sanctioned at that.  

The good people Rochdale must draw comforted from the news that their taxes are put to such good use and that the Minister is so helpful.