An option 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

The department of Health launched an England wide consultation on the 16th of December to find out if it should prohibit the use of 0844/ 0845 numbers to access services given by the National Health Service.

Increasing numbers of GP practices, pharmacies, Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and opticians use these 08 numbers as they provide better call functions like caller queuing and choices for enquirers to ensure they get through to the correct department (e.g. press 1 for reception, press 2 to speak to a matron etc.)

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

This is specifically essential 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 readily being used by many NHS businesses including Wiltshire Medical Services, South Staffordshire PCT and West Sussex PCT

The following 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 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 entirely for public sector organisations.

4. Organisations can cope with callers more efficiently, gain valuable data about their particular 03 number and make sure all calls are answered by the correct person, straight away.

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 control where they receive their calls, by diverting their 03 number to any UK landline or a mobile phone simply using 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 frequently be very reasonable to run if you seek out the provider with the most reasonable offering in the industry.

The outcome of the public consultation will be interesting and for NHS organisations that depend on the features of their telephone numbers, then at least 03 numbers or 0800 numbers provide a viable alternative if they decide to rule out 0844/0845 numbers in the NHS.