Written by The 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 put forward by the Department of Health
The department of Health launched an England wide consultation on the 16th of December to find out whether it should prohibit the use of 0844/ 0845 numbers to access services given by the NHS.
Increasing numbers of GP practices, pharmacies, Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and opticians use these 08 numbers as they provide better call features like caller queuing and choices for enquirers to make sure they reach the right department (e.g. press 1 for appointments, press 2 to speak to a nurse etc.)
The consultation (which closes in March 2009) often references 03 telephone numbers as the natural alternative, as they provide the same additional functions as 0844/0845 numbers, but crucially are priced at the same level as regular landline numbers, even from mobiles.
This is specifically important when 40% of all calls made in the United Kingdom last year were from mobiles (Ofcom 2008).
0300 numbers are entirely for the public sector and are readily being put into place by many NHS businesses including Wiltshire Medical Services, South Staffordshire PCT and West Sussex PCT
Here are 10 facts why 03 numbers are starting to be used by the Department of Health:
1. They are for the public as they cost the same to ring 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 trust 0300 numbers as they are exclusively for public sector organisations.
4. Organisations can cope with enquirers more efficiently, gain valuable information about their particular 03 number and ensure all calls are received by the right person, first time.
5. It’s possible to record calls to 0300 numbers.
6. If an organisation changes its location it is simple to move the 0300 number with you.
7. Organisations can decide where they receive their calls, by rerouting their 03 number to any United Kingdom landline or even a mobile phone easily via the web/phone.
8. You can set up 0300 numbers to show you the geographic positions of callers and hectic times in the day by providing statistics packages.
9. Callers can be queued, meaning that all important calls will be answered.
10. They can often be inexpensive to run if you seek out the provider with the most reasonable 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 at least 03 numbers or 0800 numbers provide a great substitute if they decide to stop using 0844/0845 numbers in the National Health Service.
