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

10 Reasons Why 03 Numbers are Being put forward 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 get in touch with services provided by the NHS.

Greater numbers of GP practices, pharmacies, Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and opticians use these 08 numbers as they offer improved call functions like caller queuing and choices for patients to ensure they reach the correct department (e.g. press 1 for appointments, press 2 to speak to a matron etc.)

The study (which closes in March 2009) frequently references 03 telephone numbers as the natural substitute, as they provide the same extra features as 0844/0845 numbers, but essentially 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 UK last year were from mobiles (Ofcom 2008).

0300 numbers are exclusively for the public sector and are readily being used by many NHS organisations including Wiltshire Medical Services, South Staffordshire PCT and West Sussex PCT

Here are Ten reasons why 03 numbers are being advocated 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. There is an extensive range of easy to remember 03 numbers available as they are still relatively new (launched in 2007).

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

4. Organisations can cope with enquirers more effectively, get valuable information about their specific 03 number and make sure all calls are answered by the right person, first time.

5. You can set up 0300 numbers to record calls.

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

7. Organisations can control where they receive their calls, by rerouting their 03 number to any UK landline or even a mobile phone simply 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. All important calls will be answered if you can provide the caller with a queue when your busy.

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

The outcome of the public consultation will be interesting and for NHS organisations that depend on the functions of their telephone numbers, then at least 03 numbers or 0800 numbers provide a great substitute if they should choose to stop using 0844/0845 numbers in the National Health Service.

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