My initial reaction to this development was fine, until I discussed it with SCV a few weeks ago.

If the geo number is also getting answered at the same time that is ok, but if it is just allowed to ring until the 0844 calls are answered then it is useless and just a con. Worse if it is engaged because somehow it is merged with the 0844 number and will be engaged until all those in the queue are answered.

Anyone have any idea how these apparently parallel numbers will work?

If you are right catj then that is unacceptable and a true two tier system. The geo number callers will always have to wait for all the 0844 calls to be dealt with (even if they called many minutes later as long as a queue still exists) and therefore probably not get an appointment.

I can see this as the next con that the PCTs accept as meeting the DofH requirements

Keith wrote on Jan 9^th, 2013 at 3:47pm:

A credible explanation was offered to me by a representative of a well known provider of Surgery telephone systems recently.

This is found in a briefing on the topic of the Two Tier NHS

That request is not at all cheeky. It's a really good point.

I originally had "0844" there, then decided to change it as it also applies to 0843.

However, I lost the plot by putting "084" as the table does not quite apply to 0845.

0845 has a revenue share of about 2 p/min.

According to a posting made on one of the Which? Conversations, The Wolds Practice has just changed over to a g11 0844 number.

bigjohn wrote on Feb 17^th, 2013 at 2:12am:

A little more information in our blogging - Rip-off GPs: Daily Star targets Hunt, Cameron, Clegg and Gove

http://www.wscountytimes.co.uk/news/health/calls-to-gps-cost-up-to-20p-a-min-1-4...

Published on Saturday 9 March 2013 08:00

Doctors surgeries in Horsham are still only offering 0844 contact numbers despite Department of Health guidance against the use of high rate numbers.

Outside Horsham, surgeries use geographical numbers, but Holbrook Surgery, Park Surgery and Riverside Surgery still have 0844 numbers even though the guidelines were brought in two years ago. They are not premium rate, but are more expensive to call from mobiles and non-BT landlines.

Barry Lynch a patient of Riverside surgery said his mobile operator charged him 20p a minute for a call his GP recently.

Park Surgery, featured in the County Times on this subject last year, now provides an 01403 number alongside its 0844 number.

A spokesman for NHS Sussex said: “No practice in Sussex uses a premium rate number. However, 084 numbers can cost more to call than other landlines.

“The exact cost depends on your individual phone package. In the last few years, across the country, many practices bought 084 numbers as they can help with directing callers to the right person. Practices are now required to check whether a person calling their practice pays more than the cost of a call to an 01 number - a geographical telephone number. If that is the case then the practice must take action.

“Terminating 084 numbers before the end of the contract can incur heavy fees - in order to make the best use of public money some GP practices have taken actions such as offering an 01 number alongside the 084 number or calling patients back. This is in line with national requirements.”

“We take our responsibility on this matter very seriously and continue to work with GP practices to ensure there are no barriers to patients contacting their GP practice.”

The County Times asked Holbrook and Riverside Surgeries for comment, but did not receive a reply.