Network Europe Group

Press

Please see below latest news articles as they happen.

11th January 2010 - NEG WELCOMES CONFIRMATION FROM DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND BMA OF GREEN LIGHT FOR SURGERY LINE

Network Europe Group has welcomed the release by the Department of Health on 22nd December 2009 and the British Medical Association’s Local Management Committee on 8th January 2010 of directions and guidance to the NHS and BMA Members confirming the Government’s and the BMA’s green light for NEG’s Surgery Line solution.
NEG had previously praised the announcement on 14th September 2009, by Health Minister Mike O’Brien MP that GPs and other NHS professionals and organisations will in future remain free to choose 084 number based solutions for local services, so long as the cost of the call is no more than the equivalent cost of calling a geographical number.
We very much welcomed the Government’s conclusions at the end of its consultation process on the use of 084 numbers in Primary Care, namely that:

• the Government accepted that 084 numbers are not always significantly more expensive for patients to call;

• the Government recognised that some telecoms providers (eg NEG) “have chosen to charge no more for an 084 call than a call to a geographic number when dialling from a fixed line”;

• the Government wishes to see a marketplace evolve in the NHS in which 084 numbers compete alongside 01, 02 and 03 numbers.

The release on 22nd December 2009 of formal Directions to the NHS instructs the NHS to enable this to happen. The Directions were accompanied by guidance in the form of a letter to the NHS from Nick Hall, Senior Civil Servant at the Department of Health, stating “these Directions do not prohibit an organisation from using specific number ranges for the purpose of contacting NHS services. Organisations remain free to use non-geographical number ranges such as 084, providing that patients are not charged more than the equivalent cost of calling a geographical number to do so.”
The Directions from the Secretary of State make clear that any NHS organisation is free to choose to adopt or continue with any number based solution, including 084 numbers. All that is required is for the NHS organisation to satisfy itself, before signing or extending a contract, that the cost of calls to the NHS body is no higher than equivalent calls to geographical number.

The British Medical Association has confirmed this position in guidance to its members, issued on 8th January 2010, which states:

“GP practices (and all others bodies within the NHS using 084 numbers) should obtain written confirmation from their phone service supplier that the charge for a call to their number is no more expensive than making an equivalent local call. The DH has been assured by the main phone service supplier, NEG (Network Europe Group, a national provider of telephony services such as Surgery Line), that this is the case.

This does not mean that the use of 084 numbers in itself has been banned. As long as the tariff is equivalent to local rates, and the practice obtains a written guarantee from their phone supplier (usually NEG) that they are charging rates in line with local geographic calls, then they will be deemed to have fulfilled their medical services contract.

NEG is happy to confirm that its Surgery Line solution meets this requirement.


End

15th September 2009 -NHS free to choose 084 numbers for local patients

On 14th September 2009, Health Minister Mike O'Brien MP announced that new legislation will be introduced to ensure that local patients do not pay more than the cost of a local call to contact the NHS. This means that GPs and other NHS professionals and organisations will in future remain free to use 084 number based solutions for local services, providing patients do not pay any more than a local call.


The announcement means:

  • The use of 084 numbers in the NHS will continue with the support of the Department of Health, so long as patients do not pay more than the cost of a local call;
  • Decisions on whether to adopt an 084 number will continue to be freely taken by an individual GP surgery, dental practice or other NHS organisation;
  • Revenue sharing is to be allowed to continue;
  • The proposed action will allow a marketplace to evolve in which 084 numbers compete alongside 01, 02 and 03 numbers;
  • NHS Direct will retain its current 084 number until the Government and OfCom are clear about any future role and function they may have in implementing a national 3-digit number for urgent care.

Commenting on the Government's announcement, NEG Managing Director, Dean Rayment said

"We applaud the Government's decision to allow patients, GPs and other NHS professionals to continue to benefit from the increased services, convenience and choice that are provided by the use of 084 numbers. We were always confident that, once the full facts about NHS telephony services were considered objectively by the Department of Health, the retention of the option to choose 084 numbers would be seen to be the best solution for patients, GPs and the NHS."


Background to the Government's Announcement

The Department of Health announced a consultation exercise on "The use of 084 numbers in the NHS" on 16th December 2008. The consultation closed on 31st March 2009.

In its official response to the DH consultation exercise, NEG demonstrated:

  • For virtually all patients' calls, the local GPs’ 084 number is not more expensive to call than using an ordinary number;
  • More than 4.5 million patients use an 084 number to contact their GP surgery every month;
  • When allowed to be given the choice, GPs choose 084 numbers because it allows them to improve access and invest in quality services for patients;
  • GPs do not make a single penny of individual profit from 084 numbers.


31st July 2009 -Network Europe Group merger

July 2009 saw the merger of four of our standalone businesses into one £20 million company, Network Europe, NEG Telecom Ltd, NEG Engineering Ltd and NEG T2 Ltd have become one consolidated company, Network Europe Group Ltd. "Despite the current economic climate, this was always our plan for the business, it brings together some great staff an enthusiastic R&D team coupled with a board of directors with over 110 years experience" says Dean Rayment who forms part of the new Executive Management Team tasked with running the merged company. "it has given us the opportunity to kick the tyres and see if certain parts of our company are fit for purpose" continues Dean. Network Europe was founded in 1992 by Scott Russell and Nigel Butcher who retained a small share holding when the company was sold to the current management team in 2004, both Nigel and Scott have accepted non executive positions on the board of the new company along with ex Sales Director Richard Chapman who has taken a full time role tasked with developing sales strategies.