DOCTORS have been accused of cashing in on their patients after switching to high rate telephone lines.

At least two practices in and around Worcester have switched to 0844 numbers.

More than 1,000 medical practices now use profitable 0844 numbers, including St John's House Surgery in Bromyard Road, Worcester, and Ombersley Medical Centre.

Both practices declined to discuss the adoption of the number which can cost 40p minute from a mobile and 4p more a minute than an ordinary landline number.

But Watchdog Oftel has called on the British Medical Association to ban the system.

Malcolm Cooper, a former chairman of the North Worcestershire Health Authority, said: "I think it's really unfair of any health professionals to try to increase their income at the expense of patients.

"I would have thought there were plenty of opportunities for low cost telephone landlines to be able to give benefit to service users. There's no need for the health service to make a profit out of people's misfortune and illness."

All three St John's ward councillors - David Candler, Margaret Layland and Samuel Arnold were against patients being forced to make premium rate calls.

Coun David Candler, who continued on page 2 represents St John's ward, said: "It's unfortunate that general practioners feel the need to exploit their patients in this fashion. They should bear in mind that the income levels of people in St John's are well below the national average and for them to pay this sort of additional charge is quite extraordinary and regrettable."

Coun Layland, a former patient at the practice, said: "Particularly at a time when you're vulnerable when you're ringing a doctor, the last thing you want is to be charged a high rate for your phone call."

One patient, who uses the surgery but declined to be named, said: "It's a bit of a stealth task in a way. There's nothing on the recorded message that indicates what the cost of the calls are going to be. The fact that it's an 0844 looks similar to the local rate 0845 number misled me."

Janie Thomas, chairman of the Worcestershire Primary Care Trust Patient's Forum, said surgeries were trying to reduce the time it takes to get through to on the phone, "I don't think they have necessarily thought about the cost," she said. "But the cost is a problem, there's no two ways about it."

represents St John's ward, said: "It's unfortunate that general practioners feel the need to exploit their patients in this fashion. They should bear in mind that the income levels of people in St John's are well below the national average and for them to pay this sort of additional charge is extraordinary and regrettable."

Coun Layland, a former patient at the practice, said: "Particularly at a time when you're vulnerable when you're ringing a doctor, the last thing you want is to be charged a high rate for your phone call."

One patient, who uses the surgery but declined to be named, said: "It's a bit of a stealth tax in a way. There's nothing on the recorded message that indicates what the cost of the calls are going to be. The fact that it's an 0844 looks similar to the local rate 0845 number misled me."

Janie Thomas, chairman of the Worcestershire Primary Care Trust Patient's Forum, said surgeries were trying to reduce the time it takes to get through to on the phone.

"I don't think they have necessarily thought about the cost," she said. "But the cost is a problem, there's no two ways about it."