Moray SNP News

MORAY PATIENTS SET TO BENEFIT FROM A CHANGE IN PHONE NUMBERS USED BY NHS GRAMPIAN

Moray MSP, Richard Lochhead, has today received a response from the Chief Executive of NHS Grampian, Malcolm Wright, which confirms that NHS Grampian will change from using 0845 numbers to 0345 numbers from the 1st July this year.

The new numbers are being introduced following Scottish Government changes and all public sector organisations must now have a contact number that is included in consumer call packages offered by telephone providers.  This means that any call to a public sector organisation must no longer cost more than the price of a local call.

0345 numbers cost the standard land line local rate and  have been assigned to replace 0845 numbers by OFCOM, the communications regulator in the UK.

Commenting on the pending change, Mr Lochhead said:

“I am delighted to hear this news which was delivered to me in a letter from NHS Grampian today.  I had written to the Chief Executive raising the frustrations of constituents who regularly contact me about the charges they incur  because of the use of 0845 numbers.   

“Up until now, people have faced call charges to contact NHS Grampian because, at present, the numbers used aren’t covered in  most call packages.  This has been a real bone of contention for many people and I know that this change will be warmly and widely welcomed by patients in Moray.  This is a positive step forward, which will represent better value for my constituents, and I look forward to seeing the changes implemented at the beginning of July.”