GOVERNMENT directives to reduce the cost of phoning NHS services are being ignored in Kirklees, a pensioner has claimed.
Last year the Government pledged to scrap the practice of health centres and GP surgeries using 0844 prefixed telephone numbers.
Many NHS centres began using the numbers to take advantage of the call handling services such as call waiting.
But for local patients who live in the same area code, calling an 0844 number can cost more than a local call.
The rate is as much as 5p a minute with a 6p connection charge plus VAT.
Speaking in the House of Commons on January 12, former health minister Mike O’Brien MP, said practises had until December this year to stop charging more than local rates for telephone calls to them.
He said: “The Department issued guidance and directions to the NHS in England on 21 December, just before Christmas, that patients should not be expected to pay more than the cost of a local call to contact the NHS, including doctors’ surgeries.
“GPs will have this year to end the practice completely and get out of any contracts that cause that to happen.
They have all got to be out by 21 December, but we want to see them out now, or as soon as they possibly can be.”
But one Holme Valley pensioner, who did not want to be named, said he was angry his local doctor’s surgery, Elmwood Heath Centre, was still using an 0844 number.
The Holmfirth surgery is one of 14 GP practices in Kirklees still using the premium rate service.
The elderly man, who suffers from back and heart problems, regularly calls the surgery to arrange transport and book appointments.
He said: “Last summer I got an email saying the NHS was going to stop using 0844 numbers.
“Calling my health centre is costing me typically 60p a time. The minimum is 25p, it’s a lot of money for people to keep paying.
“By the time you’ve managed to get through the receptionist and found the person you need to speak to it can be 10 minutes.
“When I’ve been in the surgery talking to people a lot were saying their phone bills were extraordinarily high and they didn’t realise it was from calling the surgery.
“I urge them to stop doing this and change it back to an ordinary geographic number.
“The Hippocratic oath has gone out the window and money is king.”
Mary McEnhill, practice manager at Elmwood Health Centre, denied they were making any money from using the number.
And she said there were no plans to stop using the number unless they were advised to do so.
A spokeswoman from NHS Kirklees claimed the deadline to axe the service had been put back.
She said: “NHS Kirklees are working with the 14 GP practices to make sure that patients do not have to pay more than a local geographical call to contact their practice.
“Changes to the GP contract will be made to make sure that GP practices are reviewing their telephone services by 1 April 2011 which follows national guidance.”
