Department of Health bans 0845 numbers

Phone numbers charging patients a premium rate to contact GPs and NHS services are to be banned in England, Health Minister Mike O’Brien announced today.

In April 2005, the Department of Health banned the use of premium rate numbers 0870, 0871 or 09.

Now phone numbers charging callers more that the cost of a local call will join them.

After public consultation, the results rather unsurprisingly showed that patients did not want to pay extra when calling to make an appointment with their doctor.

Health Minister Mike O’Brien said:”We have been concerned that some people are paying more than the cost of a local call rate to contact the NHS.  It is clear from the feedback we have received that patients support the banning of any number or tariff which is more expensive to call.

“For people on low incomes, and for those who need to contact their local doctor or hospital regularly, these costs can soon build up. We want to reassure the public that when they contact their local GP or hospital, the cost of their call will be no more expensive than if they had dialled a normal landline number.”

Commenting on the announcement by the Department of Health, Deputy Chairman of the British Medical Association’s GPs Committee, Dr Richard Vautrey said: “Patients who call their surgery because they’re ill shouldn’t be penalised because they have to call an 084 number, so we’re pleased that the phone companies who supply these lines to practices have agreed to ensure that their tariffs are in line with local charges.

Though NHS organisations will be allowed to keep their 084 numbers, patients must not be charged more than the cost of a local rate call.

NHS Direct will be keeping its 0845 4647 number, though options are being considered to introduce a new three digit phone number to help people find a local service for urgent care needs.