It is encouraging to see that NHS England is to look into the issue of GP surgeries using potentially expensive 0844 numbers following this paper’s recent story reporting on practices still using them in the Bradford district.

Despite Government guidelines, surgeries across the country continue to use these so-called non-geographic numbers, which can charge up to 41p a minute from a mobile phone.

But NHS England has now shown its teeth, warning one surgery in Warrington that it would be in breach of its contract if it introduced 0844 numbers, and says it will be looking into the whole issue surrounding these numbers, promising to act on its findings.

One of the surgeries in Bradford says it is unable to change its service from 0844 numbers because it is locked into a contract with a private operator, and it is likely other surgeries face the same issue.

That is a fair argument as to why they cannot quickly revert to standard local call lines, but the surgeries must have been aware of the implications for its patients of the non-geographical numbers when they first signed up.

While the amounts involved may not seem huge sums, and the rate does vary depending on the provider, these lines have the potential to impact most on those who can least afford it.

Because many people, particularly those on low incomes, use mobiles with a set payment tariff for all calls. However, if they have to ring their surgery and spend a significant amount of time on hold, they will get an unpleasant shock when their bill arrives, as these numbers are not generally included on tariffs.

NHS England has rightly warned surgeries about taking on new contracts; it must take a look at whether there is anything it can do about historic agreements.