The following tweet may be shared with those who are interested in this story.

https://twitter.com/DH_fairtelecoms/status/396966900963737600

If we are to refer to "due diligence" then we had best check our spelling, as well as references to "the Daily Mail," "David Riley" and "Daisy Chane".

If the alternative of a 0844 number had been marketed on the basis that it provided a subsidy through a Service Charge on the caller equivalent to between 5p and 7p per minute, as well as a premium Access Charge of up to 36p per minute, then we might find less cause to criticise Mr Riley. Likewise, if the option of switching to a geographic rate number, whilst retaining the Surgery Line system, had been promoted during the 12 months that were made available for existing customers to make the switch. Furthermore, if the use of 084 number had ceased once it was clear that doing so would place practices in breach of their NHS contracts. And yet again, if the option of providing a "two tier" NHS service had not been pressed as being an acceptable solution.

As GPs possess the commercial knowledge and skills necessary to lead CCGs, managing the bulk of the NHS budget in negotiation with multinational healthcare companies, one would have thought that seeing through any misrepresentation involved with something so modest as a surgery telephone system would be child's play for them. Let us hope that they will be able to put this acknowledged skill to work in securing good deals when they have to meet the full cost of their telephone systems, without the benefit of subsidy at the expense of patients.

"Matt" ? "Sunday Mirror" ? "dilig…"?

SilentCallsVictim wrote on Nov 3^rd, 2013 at 9:08pm:


Well done fairtelecoms for all the work lighting the straight and narrow.

Lets hope the GPs' in the CCGs understand that in the 'Business World' that when a salesman says that the 'Moon will be green every Monday' it ain't necessarily true. 

Afterall you wouldn't ask a GP to diagnose a knock in your engine (car) or a Mechanic to diagnose a heart rhythm, both engines but very different.

We have already found the old PCTs have given Contracts to companys like NSL Care Services using 0843 numbers and the new Area Teams are letting the Contracts go live apparently without querying why these also expensive numbers are being used for Patient Transport for NHS Hospital Services.

Hopefully someone will be knocking on relavant doors to get those 0843 numbers shifted very soon.

Lets hope we are wrong in our loss of confidence that our NHS is 'safe in their hands' 

loddon wrote on Dec 30^th, 2013 at 9:13am:

Bankfield Surgery changed its number back to a geographic one on 12 December, as the message on the home page says.

NHS England continue to drag their feet and show their incompetence and ineffectiveness.   Here we are near the end of January, another month gone and still NO ACTION FROM NHS ENGLAND.

The Which? "conversation" continues to run and today another patient says she is running out of patience because her GP continues to rip her off with an 0844 number :---

http://conversation.which.co.uk/money/expensive-gp-phone-numbers-nhs-premium-084...

"Author: Patient 1
Comment:
I am sick and tired of my GP surgery still using the 08444 number. I have asked them a number of times, over a 2 year period, when they will stop and they say they are looking into the matter.

Both my landline and mobile contracts allow my to phone standard 01 and 02 numbers free of charge and I guess many peoples do, so why is it taking surgeries so long to resolve this issue, surely all they need to do is either revert to the old number or install another 01 or 02 number so that patients have the choice.

My surgery ask that if you are unable to attend your appointment that you ring to cancel which I used to adhere to, however now that I am being well and truly changed for the privilege, I don't bother so sadly appointments are going wasted."

See all comments on this post here:
http://conversation.which.co.uk/money/expensive-gp-phone-numbers-nhs-premium-084...

A dreadful example of the intransigence, untruthfulness  and arrogance of some GPs emerges in Coventry; see this story :---

"Bell Green doctor's surgery to change expensive phone number after councillor blasts charges
"
http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/doctors-surgery-coventry-pledges-change-65...

"Dr Grant Ingrams, senior partner at Crossley Practice, denied the phone line was a money-spinner - and said they were planning to go back to an 024 number.

He is adamant the practice never received a penny.

He said: “We have identified a solution which will allow us to go back to an 024 number. But it is going to take some time."

The GP denies that there has been any financial benefit to the practice and that it will take some time to revert to a geo number, both statements are not credible.

Well done to Councillor Thomas for taking the matter up.

Ian G wrote on Jan 29^th, 2014 at 11:47am:

Strange that such professionals can be so misled over such a basic thing whilst they profess to be highly educated and of some general intelligence, if not better, and many demonstrate their interest in wider non-medical matters by going into politics .   

Ian G wrote on Jan 29^th, 2014 at 11:47am:

Once the errors of their ways have been pointed out one would think they would be anxious to correct them as quickly as possible, to protect the reputation of their profession at the least, but surprisingly they show great tardiness and reluctance to act and even do further damage to their image by telling untruths and parroting spurious and specious information to excuse their inactivity.  What a shower!

Ian G wrote on Jan 29^th, 2014 at 11:47am:

Would you care the list all these many GPs?