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 Recommended 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 National Health Service.
Greater numbers of GP practices, pharmacies, Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and opticians use these 08 numbers as they offer improved call features like caller queuing and options for patients to make sure they reach 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 talks about 03 telephone numbers as the best alternative, as they offer the same extra functions as 0844/0845 numbers, but crucially are priced at the same level as regular landline numbers, even from mobiles.
This is particularly 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 put into place by many NHS organisations including Wiltshire Medical Services, South Staffordshire PCT and West Sussex PCT
The following are 10 reasons why 03 numbers are starting to be used by the Department of Health:
1. They meet the needs of 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 entirely for public sector businesses.
4. Organisations can cope with callers more efficiently, get useful data about their specific 03 number and make sure all calls are answered 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 get their calls, by diverting their 03 number to any United Kingdom landline or a mobile phone simply using 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 inexpensive to maintain if you look for the provider with the most competitive offering in the market.
The outcome of the public consultation will be interesting and for National Health Service organisations that depend on the features of their telephone numbers, then 03 numbers or 0800 numbers provide a great alternative if they should choose to stop using 0844/0845 numbers in the NHS.
