Ringing the doctor

shillelagh · 02-10-2007, 23:04

BBC NEWS | Health | Automated GP calls rile patients

Sorry but i dont agree with that. Why should we pay for their phone system. When i ring the doctors i want to speak to a receptionist. If its engaged i know they are busy and so will ring back later why stay on the line and listen to music i can turn the radio on or put a cd on if i want to listen to music.

cashman · 02-10-2007, 23:16

i had the pleasure today of "listening to the same bloody music" for 29 mins but that was to my ISP provider, the cretinous music bugs me more than any cost, so gonna have it when we ring the docters also- THANKS JEN, go do yer bloody cleaning.

shillelagh · 02-10-2007, 23:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by cashman

i had the pleasure today of "listening to the same bloody music" for 29 mins but that was to my ISP provider, the cretinous music bugs me more than any cost, so gonna have it when we ring the docters also- THANKS JEN, go do yer bloody cleaning.

No i wont!!!

By the way its down London is this - but how long for it to come up here?

cashman · 02-10-2007, 23:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by shillelagh

No i wont!!!

By the way its down London is this - but how long for it to come up here?

know its down sauf but its just the start is my guess.

BERNADETTE · 03-10-2007, 00:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by shillelagh

No i wont!!!

By the way its down London is this - but how long for it to come up here?

Think they will have it everywhere if nothing is said. We just have to hope and pray it doesn't catch on

WillowTheWhisp · 03-10-2007, 05:09

I hope it doesn't catch on here because if it does I will not be a happy bunny. I have a phone contract that means I get free local calls but these doctors ones won't be included in that and will cost more than a basic call into the bargain! Charming.

jambutty · 03-10-2007, 13:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by shillelagh

BBC NEWS | Health | Automated GP calls rile patients

Sorry but i dont agree with that. Why should we pay for their phone system. When i ring the doctors i want to speak to a receptionist. If its engaged i know they are busy and so will ring back later why stay on the line and listen to music i can turn the radio on or put a cd on if i want to listen to music.

Yet another example of some people getting their snouts deeper in the trough.

Who allowed this to happen? No prizes for guessing.
Quote: “The government is allowing GPs to use 0844 numbers.”

Remember that when the next general election comes along.

Which group of people are most likely to ring their doctor? Er! Let me see! The sick, the old, the disabled, who just happen to be the least well off as well, with exceptions.

Who is most likely to profit from this scheme? Well the doctor for a start but also the phone companies who do not get paid for a call that is not connected, i.e engaged. They will with this system.

What about multi surgery practices? One or two receptionist’s jobs could be on the line. Less expense for the doctors = more in their pockets.

At least the Department of Health is on the side of the poor ripped off citizen. Quote: “But the Department of Health said patients should not be charged more than the cost of a local call to contact their doctor.”
What about all doctors’ surgery numbers being 0500 or 0800 numbers instead?

Maybe the answer would be that we all have a premium number that grabs some of the cost of the phone call for ourselves. It would cut down on unsolicited phone calls if the caller were actually giving us some money for receiving the call.

It’s all very well having a moan in this forum but my letter to my MP vociferously objecting to this arrangement and demanding that the government reverse their decision will be delivered tomorrow.

WillowTheWhisp · 03-10-2007, 14:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by jambutty

“But the Department of Health said patients should not be charged more than the cost of a local call to contact their doctor.”

And in some cases where people have their doctor's down in a list which doesn't get charged for (local calls with some, national calls with others) as part of the contract then they should be free like the rest.

It wouldn't be a bad idea having 0800 numbers but who would foot the bill? Nothing in life is free.The 0800 costs are compensated for by things like these automated efforts.

claytonender · 03-10-2007, 19:55

My Doctors changed to an 0844 number several months ago, I have only once tried to rung it and ok I didn't get an engaged tone but after listening to music for about 2 minutes it disconnected me, which meant I had to redial. I have since refused to ring the doctors and visit the surgery if I need to make an appointment etc, it is cheaper to walk there than take part in this 'backdoor' charging.
Surely it is unethical to charge people for something that was free to many when it was proper geographic number, bearing in mind the people who probably need to ring their doctor most are probably on a low fixed income - being pensioners or sick, so they can least afford to pay 'over the odds' for phone calls.
I sometimes depair at how out ot touch with reality most 'middle class' professional people are, they think everyone has their level of income, so the extra money they have to pay for the 0844, 0845, 0870, 0871 numbers are a drop in the ocean to them. But it might mean someone who is very sick can't afford the heating or food they need because they are worried about paying a phone bill for some very essential calls they had to make to the doctors hospital or government department.

MargaretR · 03-10-2007, 19:59

Those numbers are a rip off. I always look here for an alternative number first
SAYNOTO0870.COM - Non-Geographical Alternative Telephone Numbers
but a small time local doc might have just the one number.