I am tearing my hair out trying to solve this one. My wife's father is very sick in hospital. We have a "patientline" 07041 number for his bedside, but its absolutely impossible to call it. He's too sick to get to the front desk phone. I called the patientline customer service, and their response was that my US phone company was "stupid" for not allowing calls to UK premium rate numbers. I've tried at least 4 other long distance companies, and the same thing. What I'd like is some sort of phonecard service that allows me to buy minutes to be able to call the Patientline number. Why patientline are too stupid to set this up themselves is a mystery to me - they're waving away all that revenue. So does anyone have any suggestions? Does anyone know of any 1010 numbers in the US that will let me call patientline?
>I am tearing my hair out trying to solve this one. My wife's father is very >sick in hospital. We have a "patientline" 07041 number for his bedside, but >its absolutely impossible to call it. He's too sick to get to the front >desk phone. I called the patientline customer service, and their response >was that my US phone company was "stupid" for not allowing calls to UK >premium rate numbers. .......
It's NOT a premium rate number. It's a Personal Number service.
George Dawes <geor...@nospam.com> wrote: > I am tearing my hair out trying to solve this one. My wife's father is very > sick in hospital. We have a "patientline" 07041 number for his bedside, but > its absolutely impossible to call it. He's too sick to get to the front desk > phone. I called the patientline customer service, and their response was > that my US phone company was "stupid" for not allowing calls to UK premium > rate numbers. I've tried at least 4 other long distance companies, and the > same thing. > What I'd like is some sort of phonecard service that allows me to buy > minutes to be able to call the Patientline number. Why patientline are too > stupid to set this up themselves is a mystery to me - they're waving away > all that revenue. > So does anyone have any suggestions? Does anyone know of any 1010 numbers in > the US that will let me call patientline?
I used to use calling cards issued by rnk telecom which I bought in MA (masscall was the name), and they definitely worked to UK 07* numbers. (Both mobile and personal rate.) It charged at 50 cents a minute, as opposed to the couple of cents a minute a landline call would be.
They have a website- rnktel.com. It might be worth giving them a try?
-- David Horne- www.davidhorne.net usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk
>I am tearing my hair out trying to solve this one. My wife's father is very >sick in hospital. We have a "patientline" 07041 number for his bedside, but >its absolutely impossible to call it. He's too sick to get to the front >desk phone. I called the patientline customer service, and their response >was that my US phone company was "stupid" for not allowing calls to UK >premium rate numbers. I've tried at least 4 other long distance companies, >and the same thing. > What I'd like is some sort of phonecard service that allows me to buy > minutes to be able to call the Patientline number. Why patientline are too > stupid to set this up themselves is a mystery to me - they're waving away > all that revenue. > So does anyone have any suggestions? Does anyone know of any 1010 numbers > in the US that will let me call patientline?
Does he have call diversion on his home phone line - could be an easy, all be it expensive way of diverting.
Failing that a mobile? or dect phone plugged into a hospital pbx phone socket?
> GeorgeD
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George Dawes wrote: > I am tearing my hair out trying to solve this one. My wife's father > is very sick in hospital. We have a "patientline" 07041 number for > his bedside, but its absolutely impossible to call it. He's too sick > to get to the front desk phone. I called the patientline customer > service, and their response was that my US phone company was "stupid" > for not allowing calls to UK premium rate numbers. I've tried at > least 4 other long distance companies, and the same thing. > What I'd like is some sort of phonecard service that allows me to buy > minutes to be able to call the Patientline number. Why patientline > are too stupid to set this up themselves is a mystery to me - they're > waving away all that revenue. > So does anyone have any suggestions? Does anyone know of any 1010 > numbers in the US that will let me call patientline?
Have you tried the Bigfoot calling card? https://callcards.bigfoot.com/ They claim a rate of $0.4150 ppm to +447xx. nos.
> Have you tried the Bigfoot calling card? https://callcards.bigfoot.com/ > They claim a rate of $0.4150 ppm to +447xx. nos.
Thanks for all the advice. My guess is its unlikely to work. I have no problem calling mobile numbers, or even 0800/45/70 - its just these darned Patientline "personal numbers" that seem to be blocked on all LD carriers I've tried. I doubt this card will work since $0.41 < GBP 0.49. US carriers have finally got wise to the fact mobiles cost more (I used to be able to call them for 3c a minute!), but none seems to be able to deal with these variable rate codes. GeorgeD
>> So does anyone have any suggestions? Does anyone know of any 1010 numbers >> in the US that will let me call patientline?
> Does he have call diversion on his home phone line - could be an easy, all > be it expensive way of diverting.
That is one possibility
> Failing that a mobile? or dect phone plugged into a hospital pbx phone > socket?
I think thanks to the absurd paranoia about mobiles in hospitals in the UK (BBC America just showed an episode of Murphys Law where the killer deliberately killed a patient in intensive care by using his mobile !!!) he would be lynched if he tried to use a mobile. I don't think theres a nearby phone socket.
>"Albrow SJ" <news.stn1_homen...@homenet.f9.co.uk> wrote in message >news:42239c10$0$24046$ed2e19e4@ptn-nntp-reader04.plus.net... >>> So does anyone have any suggestions? Does anyone know of any 1010 numbers >>> in the US that will let me call patientline?
>> Does he have call diversion on his home phone line - could be an easy, all >> be it expensive way of diverting. >That is one possibility
>> Failing that a mobile? or dect phone plugged into a hospital pbx phone >> socket? >I think thanks to the absurd paranoia about mobiles in hospitals in the UK >(BBC America just showed an episode of Murphys Law where the killer >deliberately killed a patient in intensive care by using his mobile !!!) he >would be lynched if he tried to use a mobile. I don't think theres a nearby >phone socket.
>thanks for the tips though
In the Cardiac ward of Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, they have a cordless phone (presumably DECT) for the receipt of personal calls by patients (they also have PatientLine). Can't see the argument that could then be used by other hospitals.
Of course, someone would then have to buy the set for the ward.
HTH
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> >"Albrow SJ" <news.stn1_homen...@homenet.f9.co.uk> wrote in message > >news:42239c10$0$24046$ed2e19e4@ptn-nntp-reader04.plus.net... > >>> So does anyone have any suggestions? Does anyone know of any 1010 numbers > >>> in the US that will let me call patientline?
> >> Does he have call diversion on his home phone line - could be an easy, all > >> be it expensive way of diverting. > >That is one possibility
The above suggestion is probably the easiest
If you had a Telco account, a Walk'n'Talk card would probably do what you want BUT I've just spoken to them and they're not available on a Prepaid Account and only on a Credit account after you've received your first three invoices.
I've also just spoken to Onetel, who have a similar card, but it takes seven days to arrive (and that's assuming you already have a Onetel account) and must be validated from your registered (probably landline) number.
> "Albrow SJ" <news.stn1_homen...@homenet.f9.co.uk> wrote in message > news:42239c10$0$24046$ed2e19e4@ptn-nntp-reader04.plus.net... >>> So does anyone have any suggestions? Does anyone know of any 1010 >>> numbers in the US that will let me call patientline?
>> Does he have call diversion on his home phone line - could be an easy, >> all be it expensive way of diverting. > That is one possibility
>> Failing that a mobile? or dect phone plugged into a hospital pbx phone >> socket? > I think thanks to the absurd paranoia about mobiles in hospitals in the UK > (BBC America just showed an episode of Murphys Law where the killer > deliberately killed a patient in intensive care by using his mobile !!!) > he would be lynched if he tried to use a mobile. I don't think theres a > nearby phone socket.
If they give you any grief, refer them to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). See:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/07/29/mobiles_hospitals_health/ -- Alex Monro, Exeter, UK Life is like Windows - the documentation alexm at pobox dot com (No HTML) is useless, and it crashes horribly Running on GNU/Linux (SuSE 8.2) from time to time... GPG key 68F8 6270 available from hkp://blackhole.pca.dfn.de
> > Have you tried the Bigfoot calling card? https://callcards.bigfoot.com/ > > They claim a rate of $0.4150 ppm to +447xx. nos.
> Thanks for all the advice. > My guess is its unlikely to work. I have no problem calling mobile numbers, > or even 0800/45/70 - its just these darned Patientline "personal numbers" > that seem to be blocked on all LD carriers I've tried. I doubt this card > will work since $0.41 < GBP 0.49. > US carriers have finally got wise to the fact mobiles cost more (I used to > be able to call them for 3c a minute!), but none seems to be able to deal > with these variable rate codes. > GeorgeD
Hi,
One option is to call into a UK calling card access number which permits onward dialling to these 07x personal numbering ranges. You would probably then dial an 0800 or 020x access number in the UK from the USA enter your UK calling card details and then the target 07x patient line number.
It may prove a little laborious finding an appropriate (i.e. one which allows calling to these numbers) UK calling card service, but not impossible.
Examples might include:
(Pass - sorry - my preliminary check didn't turn up positive confirmation of access to these number types - [i.e. alpha telecom and telesaver do not!])
Persistent searching should prove successful or other readers of this newsgroup may know some calling card services that support access to these numbers.
"George Dawes" wrote | My guess is its unlikely to work. I have no problem calling | mobile numbers, or even 0800/45/70 - its just these darned | Patientline "personal numbers" that seem to be blocked on | all LD carriers I've tried.
Are you sure it is the US carrier that is blocking the call, and not Patientline refusing to accept inbound international calls but blaming the carrier?
I think you should put a formal complaint to the hospital that their exclusive use of such a phone system and the resultant inability of your relative to be phoned is adversely affecting his medical care and psychological well-being, and that because their phone system is inaccessible from the US (for whatever reason, when an ordinary phone line would be accessible) they are contravening the Race Relations Act. Public bodies in the UK are shit scared of race relations law.
You could also contact the Local Health Council covering the hospital.
Owain wrote: > "George Dawes" wrote > | My guess is its unlikely to work. I have no problem calling > | mobile numbers, or even 0800/45/70 - its just these darned > | Patientline "personal numbers" that seem to be blocked on > | all LD carriers I've tried.
> Are you sure it is the US carrier that is blocking the call, and not > Patientline refusing to accept inbound international calls but blaming the > carrier?
> I think you should put a formal complaint to the hospital that their > exclusive use of such a phone system and the resultant inability of your > relative to be phoned is adversely affecting his medical care and > psychological well-being, and that because their phone system is > inaccessible from the US (for whatever reason, when an ordinary phone line > would be accessible) they are contravening the Race Relations Act. Public > bodies in the UK are shit scared of race relations law.
> You could also contact the Local Health Council covering the hospital.
> Owain
With reference to my previous post, easiest solution may well be to get Call Divert set up on Home Phone in UK.
I agree that it's a disgrace that no provision is made for people having to phone from outside the UK.
>>"George Dawes" wrote >>| My guess is its unlikely to work. I have no problem calling >>| mobile numbers, or even 0800/45/70 - its just these darned >>| Patientline "personal numbers" that seem to be blocked on >>| all LD carriers I've tried.
>>Are you sure it is the US carrier that is blocking the call, and not >>Patientline refusing to accept inbound international calls but
> blaming the
>>carrier?
>>I think you should put a formal complaint to the hospital that their >>exclusive use of such a phone system and the resultant inability of
> your
>>relative to be phoned is adversely affecting his medical care and >>psychological well-being, and that because their phone system is >>inaccessible from the US (for whatever reason, when an ordinary phone
> line
>>would be accessible) they are contravening the Race Relations Act.
> Public
>>bodies in the UK are shit scared of race relations law.
>>You could also contact the Local Health Council covering the
> hospital.
>>Owain
> With reference to my previous post, easiest solution may well be to get > Call Divert set up on Home Phone in UK.
> I agree that it's a disgrace that no provision is made for people > having to phone from outside the UK.
> I agree that it's a disgrace that no provision is made for people > having to phone from outside the UK.
> Simon Clark > Business Telecoms
It's an absolute disgrace people have to ring these expensive premium rate phone lines to call sick relatives in hospital. And a disgrace they were allowed to be installed in the first place. Rip-off Britain strikes again.
> > I agree that it's a disgrace that no provision is made for people > > having to phone from outside the UK.
> > Simon Clark > > Business Telecoms
> It's an absolute disgrace people have to ring these expensive premium rate > phone lines to call sick relatives > in hospital. And a disgrace they were allowed to be installed in the first > place. > Rip-off Britain strikes again.
That depends Have you seen how much it is to have a TV and phone in a French hospital. and V often they wont put callers through to the bedside. But you do get wine with the evening meal :-)
DMac <a...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote: > > I agree that it's a disgrace that no provision is made for people > > having to phone from outside the UK.
> > Simon Clark > > Business Telecoms
> It's an absolute disgrace people have to ring these expensive premium rate > phone lines to call sick relatives > in hospital. And a disgrace they were allowed to be installed in the first > place. > Rip-off Britain strikes again.
The equipment isn't free, and before they were installed, there was no effective way for NHS patients to be called at their bedsides.
I think you'll find that most people would rather have the facility, even at that price, than nothing at all.
I agree that 15p a minute is a lot to pay for such calls, but in the general scheme of things (say, compared to calling mobiles) it isn't outrageous.
The equipment is quite neat, actually. Includes free radio, and pay TV (not badly priced) and while the unit I had at my bedside a few weeks ago didn't have it operating yet, they will also have internet access.
-- David Horne- www.davidhorne.net usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk
On Wed, 2 Mar 2005 12:16:02 +0000, this_address_is_for_s...@yahoo.com (chancellor of the duchy of besses o' th' barn) wrote:
>The equipment isn't free, and before they were installed, there was no >effective way for NHS patients to be called at their bedsides.
Some years ago, there used to be a trolley-mounted phone on a geographic number that a kind nurse wheeled around the ward to whoever wanted it.
>I think you'll find that most people would rather have the facility, >even at that price, than nothing at all.
Whereas nowadays, almost everyone has a mobile phone and that could be used if hospitals didn't ban them to protect their premium-rate revenue stream. (Claims of interference with medial equipment are largely false. Mobile phones in Intensive Care are inadvisable but they're OK in most general wards.)
>I agree that 15p a minute is a lot to pay for such calls, but in the >general scheme of things (say, compared to calling mobiles) it isn't >outrageous.
>The equipment is quite neat, actually. Includes free radio, and pay TV >(not badly priced) and while the unit I had at my bedside a few weeks >ago didn't have it operating yet, they will also have internet access.
Wasn't there a scandal a year or so ago in one hospital where patients who refused to pay the daily rate for the television were subjected to 16 hours of advertisements a day from a televsion that couldn't be switched off?
Mike <m...@kempston.net> wrote: > On Wed, 2 Mar 2005 12:16:02 +0000, this_address_is_for_s...@yahoo.com > (chancellor of the duchy of besses o' th' barn) wrote:
> >The equipment isn't free, and before they were installed, there was no > >effective way for NHS patients to be called at their bedsides.
> Some years ago, there used to be a trolley-mounted phone on a > geographic number that a kind nurse wheeled around the ward to whoever > wanted it.
A world of difference between that and a bedside phone you can use _and_ receive calls on anytime.
> >I think you'll find that most people would rather have the facility, > >even at that price, than nothing at all.
> Whereas nowadays, almost everyone has a mobile phone and that could be > used if hospitals didn't ban them to protect their premium-rate > revenue stream.
I agree with you that mobiles should be allowed in general wards.
[]
> Wasn't there a scandal a year or so ago in one hospital where patients > who refused to pay the daily rate for the television were subjected to > 16 hours of advertisements a day from a televsion that couldn't be > switched off?
When you listen to the radio, there are ads for a while, then the screen goes blank. However, you can always move the screen away too.
-- David Horne- www.davidhorne.net usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk
In article <qfdc21luf8tfv39eha5fqe4tv4ivbck...@news.kempston.net>,
Mike <m...@kempston.net> wrote: >Some years ago, there used to be a trolley-mounted phone on a >geographic number that a kind nurse wheeled around the ward to whoever >wanted it.
Which was quite useful when my sister-in-law gave birth three years ago and it was still possible to call Alpha Telecom's 0800 number from payphones - she was able to call her family in South Africa from the delivery suite at 8ppm or whatever it was back then. I wouldn't like to guess at the PatientLine charges for those few pounds worth of calls! Next baby recently - PatientLine only, no wheelie phones - so we just used the mobiles (this was back when "3" were permitting 08* numbers within inclusive minutes, so calls to South Africa were effectively free).
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