A hospital trust that treats patients from Kirklees is still using premium rate phone lines, almost nine years after they were banned by the NHS.

Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Dewsbury and District Hospital, is one of the last remaining NHS services using 0844 numbers – which can cost patients up to 62p a minute from a mobile phone.

The majority of NHS providers scrapped the premium lines following an NHS announcement in late 2009 that they were to be outlawed.

A handful of GP practices in Kirklees continued to use them between 2010 and 2013 – claiming they were locked into contracts with phone companies.

But Mid Yorkshire is still using them today and has only recently reduced their listing as the first point of contact.

Up until last week on the hospital trust’s contact page online, the 0844 number was listed before the significantly cheaper 01924 alternative – a number which is often free on most mobile phone packages.

After complaints from MP Tracy Brabin, the trust has now updated their website, listing the 01924 numbers first followed by the more expensive 0844 option.

The Batley and Spen MP, whose consitutency includes Dewsbury and District Hospital, has criticised hospital bosses, dubbing the use of the premium lines as 'unacceptable'.

The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals contact page, which still lists premium rate phone numbers
The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals contact page, which still lists premium rate phone numbers

They have vowed to review the situation, which she said was 'welcome but long overdue'.

The move comes after pressure from Ms Brabin and a constituent, Ray Crorken, who has been campaigning to have the revenue generating numbers dropped following a costly phone call he made to a hospital service.

Ms Brabin wrote to the then-Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt requesting that the practise be stopped after the issue was brought to her attention by Mr Crorken earlier this year.

But the government refused to intervene, saying it was a matter for the trust.

The Examiner contacted the Department of Health, NHS England and NHS Improvement, which oversees hospital trusts, to find out if there was a blanket ban.

None were willing to clarify whether or not premium rate lines were allowed; each saying it was down to the other regulator.

A spokesperson at the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust said: “In December 2009, the Department of Health issued a directive stating NHS organisations must not impose a premium greater than the cost of a local call to contact them, and we adhere to this directive.

“A local number is provided and we advertise this as prominently as possible on our website.

Batley and Spen MP Tracy Brabin

“The continued use of the 0844 number, which is available in addition to the local standard number, is under urgent review including the cost of its use.”

Ms Brabin said: “This is a very welcome but long overdue decision on behalf on the trust.

“The prominent listing of revenue generating 0844 numbers on the trust’s website could very easily lead to a nasty surprise in a monthly phone bill, as Mr Crorken discovered to his cost.

“The practise led to a situation where poorly and vulnerable people were often charged over the odds for a service they had no choice but to use, and it’s simply unacceptable.

“I would now like to see MYHT follow in the footsteps of many other NHS trusts throughout the country and cease the use of 0844 numbers altogether.”

Ray Crorken, from Batley, said: “There is a greater proportion of vulnerable people amongst those who are ill and who must use the services of Mid Yorkshire Hospital Trust.

“The use of an 0844 number as a point of contact by MYHT imposes an unnecessary and unwarranted financial burden on the most vulnerable.

“I welcome the news that MYHT has finally decided to remove the 0844 number from its website.

“I hope that MYHT will now take the necessary steps to remove its use of the 0844 number from all points of contact be that on stationary or websites.”