Medical centre switches to local number

Date: 27/10/2011

GP surgeries with 0844 numbers may want to follow in the footsteps of one practice and switch to a local rate alternative.

Beechwood Medical Centre has swapped to a landline prefix after patients complained about the extra charges that accompanied the previous number when calling from a landline, the Halifax Evening Courier reports.

Partner at the surgery Dr Mark Rastall described the previous digits as "ethically challenging", as some patients may have been unable to book an appointment due to the cost of getting in touch.

Therefore, the practice says it is pleased to have been able to listen to the concerns of local residents and act on their requests.

He added that the centre has "removed the 0844 number and replaced it with a landline number so all customers will pay the same local rate when booking appointments".

Kingswood Health Centre may also be looking to purchase new phone numbers, as Insider Media recently reported that it has just moved to a new, specially-built location on Alma Road in Bristol.