An choices for NHS services if the Department of Health’s public consultation prohibit the use of 0844/0845 telephone numbers in 2009.

Ten Reasons Why 03 Numbers are Being Recommended by the Department of Health

On the 16th December 2008, the Department of Health launched an England-wide consultation to find out if it should prevent the use of 0844/ 0845 numbers to access services provided by the National Health Service.

Greater numbers of GP practices, pharmacies, Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and opticians use these 08 numbers as they offer improved call features like caller queuing and options for patients to ensure they get through to the right department (e.g. press 1 for appointments, press 2 to speak to a nurse etc.)

The consultation (which closes in March 2009) frequently references 03 telephone numbers as the natural alternative, as they offer the same extra functions as 0844/0845 numbers, but essentially are priced at the same rate as regular landline numbers, even from mobiles.

This is particularly important when 40% of all calls made in the UK last year were from mobiles (Ofcom 2008).

0300 numbers are entirely for the public sector and are already being put into place by many NHS businesses including Wiltshire Medical Services, South Staffordshire PCT and West Sussex PCT

The following are 10 facts why 03 numbers are being advocated by the Department of Health:

1. They meet the needs of the public as they are priced the same to call as 01/02 numbers – even from a mobile.

2. Because 03 numbers are relatively new there are still a huge range of easy to remember 03 numbers available (they were launched in 2007).

3. The public confidence 0300 numbers as they are exclusively for public sector businesses.

4. Organisations can cope with enquirers more efficiently, get useful data about their particular 03 number and make sure all calls are received by the right person, first time.

5. It’s possible to record calls to 0300 numbers.

6. 0300 numbers can easily move with the organisation if it relocates.

7. Organisations can decide where they get their calls, by rerouting their 03 number to any United Kingdom landline or even a mobile phone easily using the web/phone.

8. It’s possible to see the geographic location of callers and the busy periods of the organisation using online call statistics packages.

9. All important calls will be answered if you can provide the caller with a queue when your busy.

10. They can often be very reasonable to maintain if you seek out the provider with the most competitive offering in the market.

What the outcome will be from the public survey will be very interesting and for National Health Service organisations that rely on the features of their telephone numbers, then 03 numbers or 0800 numbers provide a viable alternative if they should choose to rule out 0844/0845 numbers in the NHS.