GP using 0844 number - should this be allowed?

[gyzmo]

My GP has recently changed the number to the surgery from a landline number to an 0844 number. This in my mind is blatant profiteering.

I had need to make an appointment and, unable to get a landline number, used the 0844 number. The surgery is 20 minutes walk away, which when ill is not that convenient to walk to, and as two buses are needed to get there, a day ticket costing £4.00 is needed.

So rather then paying £4 for one journey, I decided I'd telephone - certainly cheaper. You'd think.

Got my telephone bill today. Calling the doctors has cost me £5.58. Yes - a fiver to make an appointment. It's not even private - its NHS!

Now I can imaginge that there will be some elderly people or those on low income who are unwilling to phone the surgery due to the cost. In the end, being ill cost me over £20 - fiver for the phone, £4. for the bus when I went in and £14 for the prescription (and what peeves me is that technically I'm still a student but because I'm a mature student I'm deemed to be able to afford prescriptions.....): mad:

How the hell can surgeries get away with using these numbers? what next? "Thank you for calling 999. Your call is important to us. Before we connect you through we would just like to tell you about the brand new easily affordable payment options for this call......"

[Conniff]

Our dr has done the same but there in big writing at the bottom it said - 'calls to this new number will be charged at local rate' so it is your surgery that had decided on it.

Make up some leaflets and hand them around the waiting room every time you go in and make a written complaint as well.

[emmaf01]

Have you tried applying for help with the cost of your prescriptions- no matter what your age, if you only have a low/student income you should be entitled to free prescription. You would need to apply using a HC11 form (available on the net for printing off).

The GP telephone costs are appalling- complain to your local PCT. Try speaking directly to their PALS department.

PS Your local newspaper would probably love the story- "GP PATIENT HAS TO PAY £5.58 FOR APPOINTMENT".

[forgottenone]

This in my mind is blatant profiteering.

Completely agree. Disgraceful if nothing else. I have found locally that due to 'changes' and phone systems - one being you have to tell the receptionist WHY you want to see your own doctor before you CAN make an appointment - that my doctor is becoming harder and harder to access as a result.

However, it's profiteering as you say ... but looked at in another context, the way the NHS is going in general ie money before patients ... it's denying you that access by using such a number. Certainly for anyone on low incomes, vulnerable ... is it just another case of trying to ensure only those who can afford treatment get it? Or even afford to make the phone call without walking miles to a working phone box, where they will pay more to make a call if they don't have one at home.

	Record your calls Follow this link to read the review of the Truecall telephone recorder and call manager. This is the Rolls Royce of call recorders. It's a bit pricey but if you buy it with our special offer you will get it at cost: about 20% discount. How much do we make on the deal? - Nothing at all. You can also buy cheaper devices from Maplins. Truecall is the best - but the important thing is to record your calls.

[forgottenone]

Actually, there is a programme on tv right now about NHSPatients called 'Life and Death on the NHS.'

[NHSPatient]

There is much campaigning activity already underway on this specific issue and many discussion threads in the saynoto0870 Government and Public sector forum

There are useful resources for campaigners and others at the resource web site I have given with my registration. (As a visitor/new member, I cannot add a hyperlink)

Government action to address this could be said to be pending, following an evidence gathering exercise.

I will be happy to help with further information.

[gyzmo]

Well I have contacted the local newspaper. Waiting to see if they're interested and will keep you updated!

[Bookworm]

Yes, mine did this too about a year ago and yes, it's disgusting.

[buzby]

No, it's not profiteering - someone has built a business model offering 'intelligent telephony' services and offered it to Doctors - for free. In return for providing a 'managed' number that delivers calls to the correct location based on the time of day/night, the service does have its advantages for all - except that it is the patient that is expected to pay the fee, which is wrong - but this is no different from firms charging you more because you won't pay by Direct Debit.

The solution is to swap Doctors to a practice that realises how unfair the process is, vote with your feet.

	The Direct Debit Guarantee • The Guarantee is offered by all Banks and Building Societies that take part in the Direct Debit Scheme. The efficiency and security of the Scheme is monitored and protected by your own Bank or Building Society. • If the amounts to be paid or the payment dates change, we will notify you three working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. • If an error is made by us or by your Bank or Building Society, you are guaranteed a full and immediate refund from your branch of the amount paid. • You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by writing your Bank or Building Society. Please also send a copy of your letter to us. This is a term of your banking contract and you can sue on it.

[Chesterexpress]

Calls to 0844 cost a maximum of 5p per minute from a BT phone.

[gyzmo]

7p connection charge and 5p per min on Virgin.
And there are several issues:
1. Each and every time you call, no matter when, you get an automated message (speaking very slowly as it happens) telling you that you have called the [name of surgery] and to please wait while they connect you to the surgery, a few seconds paused, then a message saying you are connected to the surgery and then either a message saying the surgery is closed or a list of options to chose from (why I don't know because they only have one person answering the phone anyway).
2. Invariably the surgery does not open dead on its opening time. so it might take a couple of calls before you get the surgery when it is actually open.
3. in relation to 2, you have to call dead on opening time to have any hope of getting an appointment within a reasonable time. I left it a few minutes and there were 18 people in the queue (which you only find out two minutes after calling and getting that damned message)

so the result is... companies making lots of money from what used to be a public health service! the thing that really annoys me is that my locality has a high incidence of low income familes and people on low incomes - the very ones most likely to need these services and least able to afford these charges.. And then there are mobility issues (one of the crappest bus "services" in the country run by the crappest bus company in the world).

I think in future I'll write using guaranteed delivery to the surgery to make an appointment - cheaper and probably quicker too......

[gyzmo]

Oh - and the only surgery in the vicinity that has a landline only has, err, one doctor and is not taking on any patients!

[buzby]

Of course, there will still be a REAL telephone number, that with a bit of subterfuge could be worth its weight in gold...!

[gyzmo]

yeah have tried that. I am not subterfuging enough! Thing is I am quite happy with my GP (he's an old fashioned one) and the surgery generally so I don't want to move even if there was anywere to move to.

[Fantasticfix]

Am I right that by your explaination of the cost of this call, and that it is charged at a rate of 5p per minute, plus 7p connection charge (with Virgin) that it took you 1 hour and 50 minutes of sitting on the phone to arrange an appointment?

[gyzmo]

err... no if you do your maths again

[MrShed]

His maths is right gyzmo...

[Batfink]

I make it 110 mins (1 hr 50 mins) too.

£5.58 = 558 pence

Less 7p connection charge = 551 pence

Divided by 5 (per minute charge) = 110 (and a smidge)

[gyzmo]

Don't forget that there is a connection charge for each call. You have to call numerous times to ensure you get through as it opens. If it is open, it is usually too busy and you are told to call back (or go to A&E). When it is not too busy, hold times are anywhere between 15 to 30 minutes.
THEN you are lucky if you get an appointment. I didn't. Cue same thing next day. Still didn't get an appointment but advised to call back in afternoon. Same process again.

the total bill is an accumulation of numerous connection charges, plus the amount per minute (which for me is not per second - it's per minute).

So the answer is no - I did not stay on the phone for 1 hour 50 minutes - though it felt like it.

[Fantasticfix]

Oh right.. I thought it was one phone call from what you had said through the thread.

Oh and additionally - I am girl!

	Record your calls Follow this link to read the review of the Truecall telephone recorder and call manager. This is the Rolls Royce of call recorders. It's a bit pricey but if you buy it with our special offer you will get it at cost: about 20% discount. How much do we make on the deal? - Nothing at all. You can also buy cheaper devices from Maplins. Truecall is the best - but the important thing is to record your calls.