6 replies to this topic

[goldcard]

My surgery has changed from a landline "get through if you feel lucky punk" system to an instantly on hold and charged for it all singing and dancing 0844 number.
Which can then take 17 minutes to get through to a person, make appointment and hang up.
Cost from my mobile, over £7....

Their website says they make not a penny profit from the line.
Ok, where does that £7 go then?
I'm not alone in using a mobile as main phone/only phone, do I ring 999* in future to save money?
Ok, I know that's no in my case, I actually do know when to use 999*, but others might cost cut, and why are surgeries switching to lines that cost more than a landline call?
Incidentally, the call was on behalf of my daughter, now over swine flu but still got ingrowing toenail.
The latter was reason for call, not flu symptoms.
* edit, see later post
/edit, no typo's. I think.

Edited by goldcard, 30 December 2010 - 10:02 PM.

[WearyRhino]

And they're going to put GPs in charge of spending NHS funds. As I have said before - like getting a builder in and giving him your cheque book and saying take what you need.

[goldcard]

when not to use 999

[ckn]

Our local surgery went to the system for a year, they got so much bad feedback about it they changed it back again. Make your opinion known to them.

Our surgery has two options for getting through when you dial: option 1 is a fairly basic automated system that you can use to arrange appointments and has no wait, option 2 puts you through to a real person if you're happy to wait. According to our GP, it cut the "real person" wait during the 8:00 - 8:30 appointments booking time down from 10 minute waits to just under 2.

[getdownmonkeyman]

My first port of call to those type of numbers:

http://www.saynoto0870.com/

[goldcard]

Our local surgery went to the system for a year, they got so much bad feedback about it they changed it back again. Make your opinion known to them.

Our surgery has two options for getting through when you dial: option 1 is a fairly basic automated system that you can use to arrange appointments and has no wait, option 2 puts you through to a real person if you're happy to wait. According to our GP, it cut the "real person" wait during the 8:00 - 8:30 appointments booking time down from 10 minute waits to just under 2.

Message left via website with FAO Practice manager at top.
My partner works at a different surgery, I can't register there because she works there and sees records etc, choice of 2 different others, and one of those has switched to 084 number, the other is the poorest in cash terms, but answers the phone and has appointments, and has a high addict register of patients.

[JohnM]

BBC story here

Basically, it seems that 084 numbers can be used to call a GP as long as they do not cost more than a standard local call though I cannot find details. Maybe a call to the NHS or a letter to your MP?