Patients in Kirklees are more likely to rack up high phone charges calling their GP despite them being outlawed by the NHS three years ago.

A survey has revealed West Yorkshire has more health centres and GPs using premium rate phone lines than any other part of England.

In April 2010 NHS bosses demanded that GPs ensure patients pay no more than the cost of a call to a geographic number to contact the surgery by telephone.

But some 19 surgeries in Kirklees are still operating 0844 and 0845 phone lines, according to a survey by campaign group Fair Telecoms.

Calls typically cost between 1p and 13p per minute for landline customers and between 15p and 41p per minute, from mobiles.

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.

West Yorkshire topped the league of shame with a total of 83 GPs (19.2%) still utilising 0844 and 0845 services – more than double the national average (8.3%).

Kirklees GPs accounted for more than one in five of the West Yorkshire cases – the second highest after Leeds.

Calderdale has the lowest amount of doctors using premium rate phone lines with 19 – almost half that of Kirklees.

Fair Telecoms spokesman David Hickson, said: “When calling any 084 telephone number, callers pay a service charge to subsidise the cost of the service they are accessing.

“For a taxation-funded service, we call this the Telephone Tax.

“The forthcoming Consumer Rights Bill will prohibit businesses from imposing a service charge on calls from customers.

“The prohibition will not, however, apply to government departments or public services not paid for by users – the Telephone Tax will remain legal.”

An NHS England (West Yorkshire) spokesman said not all 0844 numbers were expensive.

He said research was being carried out to get a clearer picture of what numbers and rates each practice was using.

A statement said: “NHS England supports guidance from the Department of Health that GP practices should not enter into any new contracts for telephone services that would mean patients pay more than the cost of a geographical call to their practice.

“Practices are also required to make arrangements to ensure that patients and other callers do not incur premium rate charges.

“GP practices were required to review existing arrangements by 1 April 2011. This remains the case.

“We are reminding practices about their obligations and asking them to ensure they have all the required arrangements in place.”

HUDDERSFIELD surgeries listed by the Fair Telecoms campaign include:

Elmwood Health Centre at Thongsbridge, The Almondbury Surgery, The Waterloo Practice, Lindley Group Practice, Thornton Lodge Surgery, Salendine Nook Surgery, Dr Glencross’ Surgery on Fitzwilliam Street, Skelmanthorpe Family Doctors at Denby Dale, Skelmanthorpe Family Doctors at Skelmanthorpe, Bradford Road Medical Centre at Thornton Lodge, Bradford Road Medical Centre at Hillhouse, Westbourne Surgery and The Junction Surgery at Moldgreen.