Comments for Faceless Britain http://consult.libdems.org.uk/faceless Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:53:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 Comment on Faceless Britain by Dave http://consult.libdems.org.uk/faceless/index.php/2008/02/07/faceless-britain/#comment-4 Dave Thu, 06 Mar 2008 10:48:27 +0000 http://consult.libdems.org.uk/faceless/index.php/2008/02/07/faceless-britain/#comment-4 0845, 0870 and other similar numbers have been causing public anguish for a number of years. Government contact centres have switched to them and some such as the DVLA generate revenue from them. Even NHS GPs are now using 0844 numbers which are more expensive than a local call and generate revenue for them. Where is the Prime Minister's response to the e-petition on this which closed last month?: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/NGN-use-by-GPs/ See the "Say No To 0870" website (www.saynoto0870.com) for more information and cheaper alternatives for these numbers. 0845, 0870 and other similar numbers have been causing public anguish for a number of years. Government contact centres have switched to them and some such as the DVLA generate revenue from them.

Even NHS GPs are now using 0844 numbers which are more expensive than a local call and generate revenue for them. Where is the Prime Minister’s response to the e-petition on this which closed last month?: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/NGN-use-by-GPs/

See the “Say No To 0870″ website (www.saynoto0870.com) for more information and cheaper alternatives for these numbers.

]]> Comment on Faceless Britain by Louise http://consult.libdems.org.uk/faceless/index.php/2008/02/07/faceless-britain/#comment-2 Louise Tue, 19 Feb 2008 11:59:03 +0000 http://consult.libdems.org.uk/faceless/index.php/2008/02/07/faceless-britain/#comment-2 As a teacher, I am only too familiar with the insidious spread of benchmarks and targets, often at the expense of a more holistic view of the purposes of education. The same is apparent in all areas of public service, where those who ‘measure’ appear to have a different agenda from the frazzled professionals who ‘provide’. It is no surprise that ‘service users’ - that’s you and me at any stage of life and circumstance - are at a loss to see their way through the maze of embattled bureaucracy. As the examples in your consultation paper show, it’s all too easy to be sacrificed on the altar of efficiency. As a teacher, I am only too familiar with the insidious spread of
benchmarks and targets, often at the expense of a more holistic view of the purposes of education.

The same is apparent in all areas of public service, where those who ‘measure’ appear to have a different agenda from the frazzled professionals who ‘provide’.

It is no surprise that ‘service users’ - that’s you and me at any stage of life and circumstance - are at a loss to see their way through the maze of embattled bureaucracy. As the examples in your consultation paper show, it’s all too easy to be sacrificed on the altar of efficiency.

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