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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Doctors' phone line use reviewed | Doctors' phone line use reviewed |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A ban on the use, by GP surgeries and other parts of the NHS, of phone numbers which begin with 084 is being considered say ministers. | A ban on the use, by GP surgeries and other parts of the NHS, of phone numbers which begin with 084 is being considered say ministers. |
| They have launched an England-wide consultation to ask with people whether they want to keep the numbers. | They have launched an England-wide consultation to ask with people whether they want to keep the numbers. |
| Doctors say the new systems enable them to offer patients a better service. | Doctors say the new systems enable them to offer patients a better service. |
| But campaigners argue using the more expensive numbers is against the founding principles of the NHS, which should be "free at the point of need." | But campaigners argue using the more expensive numbers is against the founding principles of the NHS, which should be "free at the point of need." |
| Increasing numbers of GP surgeries, hospitals and primary care trusts now have 084 numbers for patients use, such as when booking appointments. | Increasing numbers of GP surgeries, hospitals and primary care trusts now have 084 numbers for patients use, such as when booking appointments. |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| Dr Richard Vautrey says his patients get a better service | Dr Richard Vautrey says his patients get a better service |
| Callers to the numbers are put in a queue, rather than encountering a constantly engaged tone. | Callers to the numbers are put in a queue, rather than encountering a constantly engaged tone. |
| Any revenue that is raised has to go towards the cost of the phone systems. | Any revenue that is raised has to go towards the cost of the phone systems. |
| However complaints over the use of the numbers - which are usually more expensive than local calls - have lead to a government rethink. | However complaints over the use of the numbers - which are usually more expensive than local calls - have lead to a government rethink. |
| The additional expense depends on the phone company, and what their call plan is, but if the caller is using a mobile it can reach 40p per minute. | |
| Over the next three months people in England will be able to give their views on whether the practice should be allowed to continue. | Over the next three months people in England will be able to give their views on whether the practice should be allowed to continue. |
| 'Dramatic improvement' | 'Dramatic improvement' |
| The NEG (Network Group Europe) company, which supplies 084 numbers to the NHS, says 10 million patients across the UK are registered with a doctor's practice that uses the system. | The NEG (Network Group Europe) company, which supplies 084 numbers to the NHS, says 10 million patients across the UK are registered with a doctor's practice that uses the system. |
| One such surgery is the Meanwood Practice in Leeds, where Dr Richard Vautrey is based. | One such surgery is the Meanwood Practice in Leeds, where Dr Richard Vautrey is based. |
| Dr Vautry, deputy chair of the British Medical Association's GP Committee, said: "Before we put in the system, patients were concerned about the difficulty they had in getting through on the phone. | Dr Vautry, deputy chair of the British Medical Association's GP Committee, said: "Before we put in the system, patients were concerned about the difficulty they had in getting through on the phone. |
| "Surveys showed it was an area of weakness for us. | "Surveys showed it was an area of weakness for us. |
| "It's never going to be perfect - but the 084 number has given us a dramatic improvement and certainly made a big difference. | "It's never going to be perfect - but the 084 number has given us a dramatic improvement and certainly made a big difference. |
| "Any idea that GPs make money from these numbers is a myth. | "Any idea that GPs make money from these numbers is a myth. |
| "The cost to our practice has in fact increased since we put in the new system. | "The cost to our practice has in fact increased since we put in the new system. |
| "Before it was £7,000 a year and now it's £10,000." | "Before it was £7,000 a year and now it's £10,000." |
| Opposition | Opposition |
| But phone campaigner David Hickson said the use of the numbers was "completely unacceptable." | But phone campaigner David Hickson said the use of the numbers was "completely unacceptable." |
| He said: "The NHS is supposed to be free at the point of need. | He said: "The NHS is supposed to be free at the point of need. |
| "The difference in each call may be only a few pence for some people, but the costs can really mount up for others - especially for people who are using mobiles because they don't have a landline. | "The difference in each call may be only a few pence for some people, but the costs can really mount up for others - especially for people who are using mobiles because they don't have a landline. |
| "I find it bizarre that the government is doing a consultation on this now. | "I find it bizarre that the government is doing a consultation on this now. |
| "It's more than three years since the Department of Health banned GPs from using 0870 and other higher cost numbers. 084 numbers should have been stopped then." | "It's more than three years since the Department of Health banned GPs from using 0870 and other higher cost numbers. 084 numbers should have been stopped then." |
| One solution could be to use 03 numbers across the NHS. These offer the extra functions of automated 084 systems, but without patients having to pay extra. | One solution could be to use 03 numbers across the NHS. These offer the extra functions of automated 084 systems, but without patients having to pay extra. |
| However some GP surgeries are locked into phone contracts lasting as long as seven years. | However some GP surgeries are locked into phone contracts lasting as long as seven years. |
| Government view | Government view |
| Health Minister Ben Bradshaw said: "A few years ago we banned the previous systems that were proving expensive. | Health Minister Ben Bradshaw said: "A few years ago we banned the previous systems that were proving expensive. |
| "But people got round it by using 084 numbers. We now need to find a sustainable solution. | "But people got round it by using 084 numbers. We now need to find a sustainable solution. |
| "We'd have to look carefully at whether existing contracts could be interrupted." | "We'd have to look carefully at whether existing contracts could be interrupted." |
| Mr Bradshaw confirmed that the consultation would also seek the public's view about the phone line service NHS Direct using an 0845 number. | Mr Bradshaw confirmed that the consultation would also seek the public's view about the phone line service NHS Direct using an 0845 number. |
| Dean Raiment, the managing director of NEG, said: "We also share the government's determination that patients all over the country should receive the best possible service. | Dean Raiment, the managing director of NEG, said: "We also share the government's determination that patients all over the country should receive the best possible service. |
| "We look forward very much to continuing to work with the Department of Health as part of the consultation process, to determine the most appropriate solution." | "We look forward very much to continuing to work with the Department of Health as part of the consultation process, to determine the most appropriate solution." |