Please think again on costs of hospital calls

Concern has been expressed about the use of numbers beginning with 0844/0845 by GPs in the city and county on the basis that they cost the public more than the standard local call. At the time of writing, the Department of Health is reviewing this system. At the same time, Ofcom, the independent regulator for telecommunications, says it would prefer health services used a number staring with the 03 prefix, costing about the same as a standard call.

Against that background we cannot help but be surprised that the University Hospitals of Leicester Trust, which runs the three big centres, has felt it appropriate to introduce its own new system – using the 0844 number. As everyone knows, the three big hospitals treat tens of thousands of patients, all of whom have a need to maintain contact with relatives – and in turn those relatives will be wanting to check up on progress.

The new number means that almost everyone who makes calls to the General, Glenfield or Royal Infirmary hospitals will end up paying that bit more for the privilege.

We have already gone through the very fierce debate about whether it is appropriate for people to be charged for the use of hospital car parks. Anyone using these facilities will have heard members of the public expressing their concern about the charges. There is clearly a cost to the health service in maintaining car parks.

A standard phone system will also cost money and clearly part of the thinking behind the trust's new number is that money will be saved. It is also said to provide a more efficient communications system.

We wonder whether this really is a step too far, particularly in the present economic climate. Even a small increase in the cost of keeping in touch with sick relatives will hit many families quite hard.

We would urge the trust to think again.