A CAMPAIGNER has written to two Dorset primary care trusts calling on them to get tough with GP surgeries that have 0844 telephone numbers.

David Hickson believes that the use of such numbers breaches the doctors' contract with the NHS because the revenue they raise is shared with the provider of the telephone service.

"The principle of the NHS is that you don't charge patients for services, apart from things like dentistry and eye examinations, which are subject to exemption," he explained.

"The way this works is that a company wants to flog a telephone system to GPs. The doctors say they can't afford it, and the company says it won't cost them a penny. What happens is the in-house telephone system is paid for by patients as they call.

"I have sympathy for GPs if they have a poor telephone system and want to improve it, but this means of funding it is not acceptable."

Mr Hickson pointed out that the cost per minute of ringing 0844 numbers was higher than to geographic numbers, which start 01 or 02. There is also a connection charge.

The 0844 numbers are usually excluded from call-inclusive packages such BT Option 3, and cannot be rung from abroad if medical information is needed urgently.

Mr Hickson emailed the chief executives of Bournemouth and Poole Primary Care Trust and Dorset PCT, with copies to local MPs. "Every PCT has got some cases, but with 10, Bournemouth and Poole are among the worst," he said.

Last week, the Daily Echo reported that the Patients' Association had attacked the use of 0844 numbers by surgeries. The two PCTs declined to comment on the story, saying it was a matter for the doctors.

But feedback on our website was overwhelmingly against the practice. Accountability of Chichester branded the numbers "a complete rip-off". Kevvo said: "Cure people not con them", and all Seeing Eye, who lives in Canford Heath, Poole, said calls to the surgery there cost more than 50p a minute.

"Poole man in France" urged people to add their signatures to more than 17,000 already on an online petition at the website saynoto0870.com.