Wokingham GPs 'urged to switch to cheaper phone numbers'

Date: 24/05/2011

GP surgeries in Wokingham may want to purchase new 0300 numbers as many local residents are upset at having to pay premium rates to make appointments.

The Wokingham Times reports that three practices in the area are still using 0844 numbers, which can charge up to 35p per minute, depending on the device being used to make the call.

Although the prefix has not been banned by the government, organisations using it have to ensure they only charge local rates.

Sunil Dharmabandhu, from Winnersh, also complained about the fact that his surgery requires the patient to listen to various options and often wait in a queue, thus pushing up the price of the call.

He said that "in this time of recession there are lots of other people who find it difficult having to pay these premium rates just to get an appointment".

Wokingham residents are not the only ones experiencing this problem, as the Bournemouth Echo recently reported that a similar situation has occurred in Dorset.