Mobile phone users 'face higher charges when calling the doctor'

Date: 20/06/2011

Doctors' surgeries and helplines may want to switch to 03 numbers due to an increase in the amount of people using their mobile phones.

Official figures released by Ofcom show that, by the end of the summer, individuals will spend more time talking on their portable device than their landline, the Daily Telegraph reports.

However, Which? claimed this could cause problems when it comes to contacting premium rate 0844 and 0845 numbers.

Telecoms expert at the consumer watchdog Ceri Stanaway said these digits are often used by GP surgeries and helplines.

However, although they are free from a BT phone they can cost "an awful lot" when contacted on a mobile.

"You can end up paying through the nose if you end up treating your mobile as if it were a landline," she stated.

At the end of last month, the Western Mail reported that many GP surgeries in Wales charge their patients premium rates to get in touch with out of hours doctors.