From the informal inside announcement which precedes a full public announcement that will follow shortly, it appears that all of the appointments numbers (ref CJT-80 #8) and the GP out of hours number (ref Barbara #7) are amongst those included in this major project.
It is said to cover all of the 0845 numbers (… 422 and … 659) used by Gloucestershire Hospitals, PCT and Care Services.
It will obviously not cover the independent contracted GPs listed
here, of which 3 practices (5 surgeries) have very recently abandoned their 0844 numbers, presumably by failing to renew their 7 year contracts.
Like the Hospital, the PCT is nearly two years late in complying with the Department of Health Directions, for itself and for the services it has since handed over to Gloucestershire Care Services. It has still apparently done nothing to enforce the terms of the contract variations on its GPs, that came into effect on 1 April 2010.
Watch the
fair telecoms campaign blog for news of the commentary that will accompany the forthcoming formal announcement of these number changes.