3 Digit Non Emergency Healthcare Phone Number Announced by Ofcom
 18th December, 2009 |
Author: Adam Binding | Rating |  |
Ofcom has confirmed that it will allocate a new 3 digit phone number for NHS non-emergency healthcare services in England.
The communications regulator has put aside the number - 111 - to make it easier for patients to access healthcare services in their local area.
Trained call-handlers will respond to requests for health or service information and assess the medical needs of callers to identify which NHS services are best placed to meet those needs and ensure that patients get to the right place first time.
It is planned that the service will be piloted in a number of areas in 2010, with the intention to roll-out the service across England should it prove successful.
The move is another step forward to providing patients clarity about the telephone numbers they use to access healthcare services.
In 2007, 030 phone numbers were introduced - specifically for public bodies and not-for-profit organisations.
030 numbers offer exactly the same benefits as 08 numbers (e.g. 0800 numbers) but cost people the same to call as a normal landline number - even from a mobile phone.
Because of these transparent call costs, many healthcare providers now use 030 numbers, including the National Blood Service and Department of Health.
Tags: 03 Numbers, Public Sector & Charity
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