BT announcement of addition of 0845 and 0870 numbers to packages

BT announcement of addition of 0845 and 0870 numbers to packages - 8 January 2009

This page briefly covers the implications of the announcement by BT that "calls to Doctors would in future be free" - as it may have been mis-understood by some.

Some facts covering the change actually announced may correct any misunderstanding of the announcement found here.

· Calls to 0845 and 0870 numbers are simply added under the terms which already apply to make no charge for calls of up to one hour to 01, 02 or 03 numbers at a) weekends, b) evenings and weekends or c) any time, according to the call plan selected.

· The charges which apply, when calls are made at other times, are unchanged.

· Only 1.4 million of the affected customers are on the Anytime plan, 4.3 million will benefit during evenings and weekends, with the remaining 8.3 million only benefitting at weekends.

· The revenue share will continue to be paid to the receiver of the call at the same rate.

· Calls to 0844 numbers, which cover most GPs benefitting from revenue sharing, and are always charged at a higher than normal rate (on call type 'g6') are unaffected.

· Calls not billed on BT residential calling plans are not affected.

· Call charges for 0845 numbers are already perversely discounted by BT, said by some to represent a "loss leader".

· BT anticipates that long-delayed implementation by Ofcom of proposed changes to the regulation of charges for calls to 0870 numbers will occur shortly. This would have forced this move anyway. It would also force a reduction to the charges made for calling 0870 numbers where these apply. BT has not "anticipated" the latter.

It is vitally important to note that this does nothing to alter the application of the principles of revenue sharing as they are relevant to the Department of Health Consultation. Calls to 0844 numbers and calls from mobiles, call boxes and other landline providers are totally unaffected, as is the receipt of subsidy by NHS providers. BT has always cross-subsidised the revenue share payments on 0845 numbers, so this more extreme cross-subsidy is not really anything new in principle.

If this move serves to make use of revenue sharing 0845 numbers appear more acceptable this would be most damaging to the interests of someone unable to afford to rent a BT landline, who has to use a PAYG mobile to arrange an appointment with a GP or Hospital or call NHS Direct. Whilst mobile users pay higher calls charges anyway, the additional surcharge applied for calls to revenue sharing numbers as used by these NHS services is also much greater, being up to 30p per minute.

Dr Richard Vautrey, Deputy Chairman of the BMA GPC and a 0844 user, is quoted in the YEP describing this move as "exactly the way forward". It is nothing of the kind; it is highly selective and even regressive in its impact. It has no effect on any one of Dr Vautrey's own patients, nor indeed those of any of the 8% of practices who use 0844 numbers - only 2% use 0845, almost all of whom are in Yorkshire or the West Midlands. It is time for the BMA to represent the interests of the majority of its members, who are committed to the principles of the NHS whilst they protect their own position but, like the the head of the practice where I am registered, "would not touch one of these [revenue sharing] numbers with a bargepole".

These facts and points are not always fully reflected by the media coverage found here:

Daily Telegraph - Calls to banks and doctors made free as BT scrap 0870 and 0845 charges

The Guardian - BT scraps charges on 0845 and 0870 numbers

Daily Mail - BT scraps charges on 0870 and 0845 numbers for calls to banks and GPs

Daily Mirror (advice) - Numbers up for BT

Which? - 0870 calls included with BT call packages

OnMedica - BT drops practices 0845 phone number charges *

Pulse (GP journal) - BT call charges cut may help GPs *

Healthcare Republic - BT scraps charges for practices' 0845 numbers *

Yorkshire Evening Post (quoting Dr Vautrey) - NHS phone charge fees to be scrapped

Yorkshire Post - BT drops charges for some high-cost numbers - (editorial) - Good Call *

Press Association - BT scraps charges for 0870 numbers

(Many other publications simply reproduced the PA copy)

* see posted comment

Two radio interviews provided an opportunity to express a measured reaction

BBC Radio 5Live

BBC Radio WM

Please contact me at NHS {dot} Patient {at} ntlworld {dot} com