3 hospitals, 1 number
Press Release 923
16 February 2009
Bosses at Leicester Hospitals announce today that they have started to use a new “single telephone number” for all three hospitals: 0300 3031573.
John Aird, the Trust’s IT chief said "We wanted to make calling Leicester's hospitals easier and our new number helps us do that. The number will be answered by one of our switchboard operators, giving people direct access to all 3 of our hospitals."
"Our switchboard operators answer over a million telephone calls every year, 80 percent within 5 rings. We are currently working to modernise our telephony service which will lead to switchboard staff providing an even quicker service for callers."
The old telephone numbers will be phased out over the next few months, starting with Leicester General Hospital. Initially calls will be automatically redirected, but by March callers to the General using the old number will hear a recorded message advising them of the new number. We will not totally switch off the old numbers until we are entirely happy with the public’s level of knowledge about the new single number.
Darren Brown, Head of Telecoms for Leicester Hospitals added: "We originally chose 0844 as a single number prefix, but, following concerns raised by members of the public that an 0844 number could end up costing more, we looked at this again."
"We listened and learned and we’ve ditched 0844."
"Our new 0300 3031573 number is recognised by call packages and pre-pay mobiles and, unlike 0845 and 0844 numbers, callers cannot be charged any more than they would pay if they were calling a local number. This means there will be no additional cost for local people calling the hospitals - and we will certainly not be making any money out of the new phone number."
ENDS
Notes for editors
1) Leicester's hospitals are one of only two teaching trusts nationally to receive an 'excellent' rating for the quality of services for the second year running in the Healthcare Commission's (HCC) Annual Health Check 2007. The rating confirms that Leicester's hospitals are consistently amongst the best in the country and are the only teaching trust in the Midlands to be rated 'excellent'. The three hospitals - Glenfield, Leicester General and the Royal Infirmary - cared for over 1 million people last year.
Issued by: Greta Smalley, Communications Manager on 0116 258 8722 or greta.smalley@uhl-tr.nhs.uk