Ministers increase pressure on GP’s to stop using 0845 and 0844 numbers in their surgeries.
Ministers have launched an England-wide consultation to ask the public whether they want GP surgeries to keep their 08 numbers.
Over 1000 surgeries across the UK are now using 0844 and 0845 numbers. These numbers generate a small amount of income for the practices, which is then spent on improving patient services.
These lo-call rate 08 numbers cost up to 5 pence a minute from a landline, and up to 20 pence a minute from a mobile.
Health Minister Ben Bradshaw said: “We are concerned that some people are paying over the odds to contact the NHS. For people on low incomes who need to contact their local doctor or hospital regularly, these costs can soon mount up.”
Both GP’s and the British Medical Association are defending the use of 08 numbers in general practice. Dr Laurence Buckman, GPC chair, said: ‘Where 0845 numbers are used by the NHS there is good evidence that patient satisfaction has improved, with better and quicker access to services because of the additional functions within the telephone system.’
In 2005 the Department of Health put pressure on GP’s to change from 0870 numbers, which cost the caller significantly more than the 0845 range.
An official review is being conducted into whether surgeries and governing bodies should be made to use the 03 number range. These numbers cost the same as a local call but will not contribute to funding the telephone systems currently installed in surgeries across the UK.
Ministers have failed to highlight how these services can be funded if these changes do take place.
The article poses the important question by reporting that “Ministers have failed to highlight how these services can be funded if these changes do take place.”
To understand the present position one must first put aside the cross-subsidy and profiteering by originating telephone service providers that can serve to cloud the issue. This leaves the answer that NHS patients are presently paying for NHS services.
The BMA has suggested that telephone companies should pick up the bill. Firstly by offering services that are presently provided on revenue sharing numbers, and therefore without charge, for free when non-revenue sharing numbers are used. To complete the picture it would also be necessary for the telephone companies to provide cash to fund the leases on equipment presently installed in surgeries for free.
Those who in the past may have misled practices about the costs of calls to 0844 numbers should perhaps be penalised in some way. It is perhaps going a little far to expect such generosity.
Whatever solution to the “funding gap” is found, and it could be a complex mix of contributions from various sources, most people believe that it is unacceptable for NHS patients to be required to provide funding for NHS services as they access them.
Other NHS services are subject to fees; however these are regulated, sanctioned by parliament and subject to exemptions based on need and ability to pay. There are also some cases where car parking charges amount to an unnecessary additional imposition of cost on those who are accessing NHS treatment. Where this is true, it is no more defensible than the surcharges imposed as a result of use of revenue sharing telephone numbers.
There are many other public services which would also be seen as being “free at the point of need”, whereas they are provided using revenue sharing numbers. These are no less worthy of similar attention.
Whatever the merits of the revenue sharing mechanism as a proper means of funding services, to warrant respect it must be done openly or it may rightly be seen as something of a scam. The Department of Health consultation will draw public attention to the way in which the mechanism works in general. Those who would defend it should be ready to engage in open and honest discussion.