Teresa is celebrating news that the Lakeside Medical Practice has introduced new local telephone numbers for patients to use when booking medical appointments. Previously patients could only book appointments through a premium rate 084 number that can be very expensive, especially for people calling from mobile telephones.
The local numbers were introduced after Teresa advised the Practice last year that changes had been made to the general medical services regulations to prohibit GP practices from using telephone numbers that charge patients more than the equivalent cost of calling a geographical number to contact the NHS.
Since being elected Teresa has been working on the campaign for a local telephone number at the Practice alongside Thamesmead Moorings Councillor Jackie Smith and was supported by the Friends of Lakeside Medical Practice.
Teresa said:
“The high cost of booking an appointment at Lakeside Medical Practice, particularly for people with mobiles, was an issue that many people in Thamesmead raised with me and Cllr Jackie Smith.
“I’m really pleased that the Friends of Lakeside have taken these concerns on board and have now put posters up in the Practice and notices on the website advertising the new cheaper local number. I’d like to thank Cllr Jackie Smith and the Friends of Lakeside for their support in this campaign.
“I’d also urge anyone else who is experiencing a similar problem with their GP Practice using premium rate numbers to get in touch with me or their local councillor. No one should be charged more than the cost of a local call for booking a medical appointment.”
