These surgeries seem to have a block of numbers of which, often, the main number with the menu on (which the 0844 points to) is the first.

This page on the NHS website gives the practice manager (or as they like to be called "business manager") as Clare Ross.

A Google of "lakeside medical" "clare ross" returns this page on Jobsite which gives her number as e-mail address as clare.ross@nhs.net and telephone 020 8320 5561.

You could try dialling nearby numbers, ie 5550, 5560 etc.

Please let us know how you get on. If a suitable alternative is found, I will list it in the database for others to use.

oby wrote on Jul 3^rd, 2009 at 10:10am:

I suggest that nearby numbers by tried.

From experience of finding the geographical numbers for these surgeries, they have a block of consecutive numbers and the menu is often the first in that sequence. This often ends 0. The other numbers are used for other extensions within the building.

For example, supposing you found 01234 123452 as being someone's direct number. You might dial 01234 123450 and find that it is the main menu that the 0844 number points to.

It isn't a given that you find your surgery's number this way because it could have other numbers unrelated to the main one. The question is, is 020 83205561 part of a block of similar numbers?

If dialling other numbers starting 020 8320556x gets you through to anywhere other than your surgery (residential or business) then I would say that this is just an odd number they have. If, on the other hand, the numbers are your surgery, then I would try, for starters, 5550, 5560, 5570 etc.

Another clue that may indicate that you are getting very warm is if it answers with a voicemail system called IP Office. I've noticed that a number of these surgeries have this system which greats callers with the message "Welcome to IP Office."

Dave wrote on Jul 5^th, 2009 at 9:03am:
A rare (perhaps first time?) event - the underlying geographic equivalent to a surgery 0844 number has been found (well done Dave).

Now, how long will it be until NEG closes this 'loophole'? It will be interesting to see.