End of the line for ‘rip-off’ numbers

DOCTORS’ surgeries across Rotherham and Barnsley have stopped – or pledged to stop – using so-called “rip-off” phone numbers after they were criticised by a local MP.

By The Newsroom

Published 15th May 2012, 07:00 BST

In December last year, research by Wentworth and Dearne MP John Healey showed that two thirds of doctors’ surgeries in Rotherham and a third of those in Barnsley had 0844 or 0845 numbers which can cost patients 40p per minute.

Now, in Rotherham, although 23 surgeries still have 084 numbers, 21 have begun “taking steps” to change their number and should have moved to a geographical rate by the end of June.

In Barnsley, the last practice will move to a geographical rate this month.

Mr Healey said: “It should not cost patients more to access what should be an open NHS service.

“Telecoms companies and some GPs have been profiting at the expense of patients, when Government guidelines created by the last Labour government, but not enforced properly by the coalition, rule this out.”