NGMsGhost wrote on Aug 18
th, 2007 at 12:13pm:
simond001 wrote on Aug 18
th, 2007 at 12:01pm:
That'll go down well with people looking for privacy whilst visiting a doctor.
We won't be asking what's wrong with them will we though and I don't think being ill is in itself a shameful matter. A doctor's surgery is hardly in the same category as a VD or AIDS clinic is it.
Quote:Still amazed that you (in you mind) appear to associate a single company with this practice against all of the advice you have been given. Do you have a petty grievance with NEG or is it ignorance?
My understanding is that NEG accounts for the vast majority of doctors surgeries that have switched to using 0844 call systems but anyhow the 10 Downing Street petition is generic so we could simply our focus in opposing the use of 0844 numbers by doctors at 5p per minute and the fact they are excluded from calling packages and also cost a fortune from mobile and especially BT Payphones.
As you are such an expert on the UK phone systems and NGN number termination perhaps you can tell me why BT needs to charge a 1200% mark up on calling 0844 numbers from BT Payphones compared to only a 66% markup from a BT landline compared to the cost of calling an 01 or 02 number?
As i have stated (many many times) I do not approve of all aspects of the telecoms industry. It is abhorant that Bt charge a minimum 40pence charge for using a public payphone, especially when the callmay go to an automated nswer. I am not talking a surgery line here, but a general observance that call charges from payphones are far too high. BT will state that the cost of maintaining payphones has increases exponentially over the last 15 years, and the revenue collected from each payphone doesnot cover the cost. BT stated long ag that they would prefer to remove payphone from the majority of the UK, but are unable to under Government regulation.
Whether the individual surgeries can justify the use of 084's is not for debate here as we are not offering them to right to respond. It is surely up to them to decide whether it will negatively or positively affect their business. Patients do have the option to move doctors if they wish, and as GP's incomes are based partly on the number of patients they have this would be an effective way for patients to show their dissatisfaction.
I again believe however that if there is a benefit to using the system (on phone appointment booking, checking in at surgery, auto divert to out of hours servics/surgeries etc..) that the cost of a phone call is a very small price to pay. The aspect of not being able to call internationally could be very easily solved by offering a central geo number that transfers the call or takes message for the individual surgeries and passes this on within a short timeframe (2 minutes by email would be simple to set up). The individual surgery could then respond directly to the hospital / doctor that is requesting information. This could also be easily set up to via a telephone translation service that would remove the issue of language.
Of course, this all has to be paid for, but as with everything, quality service costs.