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The new numbers are
National Breastfeeding Helpline 0300 100 0212
BfN Supporterline 0300 100 0210
Bengali / Sylheti Supporterline 0300 456 2421
The Government is recommending all NHS related numbers move to 0300 numbers. The BfN feel that the services provided by them should be kept in line with those being offered by the NHS, therefore this change is necessary. The NCT Breastfeeding line has already changed to a 0300 number, although the line is not well supported by local volunteers in our area.
In recent years there has been a lot of discussion and concern over call charges to helpline numbers. BfN have always used phone numbers with fixed rentals so they could budget for the cost of the helpline which includes facilities such as browser control and local routing of calls.
084 numbers cost the caller slightly more and that extra income is used to cover some of the costs of providing the service, BfN has never taken part in revenue sharing. By switching to an 0300 number, it is the helpline provider (e.g. BfN) and not the caller that bears the difference in cost between a standard call and 084 number.
A new range of numbers beginning 0300 has recently been released by Ofcom for the use of public sector bodies and not-for-profit organisations such as registered charities. These numbers will cost callers the same as calls to any phone number starting with 01 or 02, and price plans which offer 'inclusive minutes' will include calls to 0300 numbers. This applies to calls made from mobile phones as well as landlines.
For more information see:-
www.dh.gov.uk/en/News/Recentstories/DH_091891
and
http://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/new-helpline-numbers.html |