Derby GPs urged to use local rate numbers

Date: 20/05/2011

Doctors' surgeries in Derbyshire are being urged to switch to local rate numbers that are less expensive for their customers to call.

The Derby Evening Telegraph reports that 18 practices in the area still use numbers that can cost up to 75p per minute to contact using a mobile phone.

This is despite new regulations coming into effect on April 1st that mean surgeries must now charge local rates.

Although many outlets in the county have changed their 084 numbers so they are cheaper to call from landlines, this is not the case for mobiles.

The Department of Health (DH) and Network Europe Group claim they have little control over the matter as it depends on the mobile users' service plans.

A DH spokesman told the newspaper: "It's up to local NHS primary care trusts to monitor GPs' compliance. There's no simple answer, unfortunately."

Health centres could switch to 03 numbers as an alternative to more expensive options, as they are cheap to call from landlines and mobiles, as well as providing a local presence.