An choices for NHS services should 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 ask if it should prohibit the use of 0844/ 0845 numbers to get in touch with 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 provide better call features like caller queuing and options for patients to ensure they reach the correct department (e.g. press 1 for reception, press 2 to speak to a nurse etc.)
The consultation (which closes in March 2009) frequently references 03 telephone numbers as the best substitute, as they offer the same additional functions as 0844/0845 numbers, but essentially are priced at the same rate as normal landline numbers, even from mobiles.
This is particularly essential when 40% of all phonecalls 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 10 facts why 03 numbers are starting to be used by the Department of Health:
1. They meet the needs of the public as they are priced 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 trust 0300 numbers as they are exclusively for public sector organisations.
4. Organisations can cope with callers more effectively, gain valuable data about their particular 03 number and make sure all calls are received by the correct 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 a mobile phone simply via 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 frequently be very reasonable to maintain if you seek out the provider with the most competitive offering in the industry.
What the outcome will be from the public survey will be very interesting and for NHS organisations that depend on the features of their telephone numbers, then at least 03 numbers or 0800 numbers provide a great substitute if they decide to rule out 0844/0845 numbers in the NHS.