NHS phone numbers set to change across Gloucestershire
People in Gloucestershire will benefit from cheaper call rates as NHS organisations in the county move to a new telephone system and new numbers which will start with 0300.
From November 26, the majority of telephone numbers for Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Gloucestershire Care Services and NHS Gloucestershire will change.
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Telephone numbers are changing at the NHS
The move will mean that virtually all hospitals and community services in the county will use the cheaper 0300 numbers instead of the previously used 0845 numbers
Calls from both landlines and mobiles will be charged at no more than the cost of a call to an 01 or 02 number.
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The changes will affect Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Cheltenham General Hospital and five community hospitals: North Cotswolds Hospital, Vale Community Hospital, Stroud General Hospital, Lydney and District Hospital and Dilke Memorial Hospital.
The remaining community hospitals in the county (Tewkesbury, Cirencester and Fairford) currently use geographic 01 numbers.
The telephone number for the Out of Hours service, which is for people seeking urgent care or treatment at times when their GP surgery is closed, is also changing to 0300 421 0220.
Callers to these sites and services affected by the change will hear a recorded message that will provide the option of redialling the new number to take advantage of the cheaper call rate.
Previous 0845 numbers will continue to connect for a period of time to ensure a smooth transition.
David Warden, IT and governance manager, who led the countywide renumbering programme, said: "As health partners in Gloucestershire, we are very pleased to be able to introduce the 0300 number which will bring down the cost of calls to benefit patients, their families and carers."
The new 0300 numbers will mean that calls cost no more than a national rate call to an 01 or 02 number, regardless of whether callers are dialling from a landline or a mobile.
A list of the hospitals, clinics and community health services affected by the changes is available by visiting: www.nhsglos.nhs.uk/telephonenumbering
The main locations changing their numbers from November 26 and their new numbers are:
Hospitals:
Gloucestershire Royal Hospital 0300 422 2222
Cheltenham General Hospital 0300 422 2222
Dilke Memorial Hospital Reception: 0300 421 8640
Lydney and District Hospital Reception: 0300 421 8722
North Cotswold Hospital, Moreton-in-Marsh Reception: 0300 421 8770
Stroud General Hospital Reception: 0300 421 8080
Stroud Maternity Hospital Reception: 0300 421 8018
Vale Community Hospital, Dursley Reception: 0300 421 8494
Other Services:
Out of Hours Service 0300 421 0220
The 'Out of Hours' service is for urgent treatment or care that cannot wait until the GP surgery re-opens. All patients need an appointment to see a doctor or nurse. To discuss your condition and arrange an appointment call 0300 421 0220 (Between 6.30pm and 8.00am on weekdays and all day and night at weekends, bank and public holidays)
Other Sites:
Gloucestershire Care Services, Edward Jenner Court 0300 421 8100
NHS Gloucestershire, Sanger House (until 31.3.12) 0300 421 1500
Children and Young People's Physio Direct 0300 421 6980
Sexual Health Services at Hope House 0300 422 6470
Stop Smoking Service 0300 421 0040
Coleford Health Centre 0300 421 8850
Gardners Lane, Cheltenham 0300 421 8645
Independent Living Centre, Cheltenham 0300 421 8923
Lydney Health Centre 0300 421 8141
Quedgeley Clinic 0300 421 6970
Winchcombe Outpatients and Physiotherapy 0300 421 1400
The number for Guide & Community PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service) will stay the same Freephone 0800 015 1548. More information: www.guide-pals.glos.nhs.uk
Comments
by RichardM12
Friday, November 30 2012, 11:08PM
“** Calls from both landlines and mobiles will be charged at no more than the cost of a call to an 01 or 02 number.
** The new 0300 numbers will mean that calls cost no more than a national rate call to an 01 or 02 number, regardless of whether callers are dialling from a landline or a mobile.
The main point is not that 03 numbers cost the same as 01 and 02 numbers, but instead a much more important point; one that is often missed. Where a user has "free minutes" to call 01 and 02 numbers as part of a landline or mobile "bundle" deal, those minutes can also be used to call 03 numbers.
Contract mobile phone users pay anything up to 41 pence per minute to call 0844 and 0845 numbers. They will pay nothing at all to call 01, 02 and 03 numbers (as long as they have call allowance minutes left).
Pay as you go mobile phone users pay anything up to 41 pence per minute to call 0844 and 0845 numbers. They will pay around half that amount to call 03 numbers.
Landline users pay anything from 2 to 15 pence per minute to call 084 and 087 numbers. For a user with a daytime calls bundle, calls to 01, 02 and 03 numbers cost nothing at all.”