AIBU to complain that outgoing calls to patients from GP surgery only show as Number Witheld?

[Serpentstooth]

My GP surgery has called me 5 times since March. None of these calls came through to me as my phone blocks withheld numbers, doesn't even ping when they happen. I've been expecting a call from GP today, noticed a blocked call, and finally managed to get through to the surgery earlier to ask if that call was from them. 'Oh yes, it was. All our outgoing calls show Number Witheld.' What? You must miss hundreds of patient calls each week. Nearly everyone I know blocks unknown numbers, especially older people frightened of scammers. 'Oh. Well, we haven't had any complaints! ' That will be because your patients won't know they've been called by the Surgery so how would they know to complain to you? "Err. Can you come in for a face to face?" Yes, I can but others won't be able to or even know that's possible as the Surgery can't get through on their phones. "Oh. Er. Your appointment will be ... etc."

Unbelievable incompetence. Am fuming in best MN manner. How can I get this fixed most quickly?

It's common practise.

It’s completely normal that calls from NHS services come from withheld numbers and has been for years.

It stops other members of the household seeing you have been phoned by the NHS, patient confidentiality.

This is totally normal. The surgery has a number that patients can call in on.
It will then have potentially several lines that it uses to call out on that are different.
It doesn’t want crazy members of the public being able to directly call the doctors or the pharmacy team. If you know you’re expecting an important call unblock your phone.

This. It’s been like this for ages.

Where I am all NHS calls come from the same number. so it could be GP or hospital and shows the same. Don't think I have ever had a withheld no from them.

Completely normal as others have said - coming up with the GP's number could be a real issue for those e.g. in an abusive relationship. You must miss loads of calls from other organisations too.

It's been that way for a few years.

Same with police and the local council

I'm more likely to answer withheld numbers than random mobiles these days. The scammers all ring off normal mobile numbers now to try and get round the blocks

Our service shows a generic number for the region. That way you can’t call back and block that line, but you know that it’s the health service calling and you should pick up if at all possible.

Well that's a comfort. However, I've also been called by a couple of NHS screening services in the last few days and a regular appointments adjustment, all of whom clearly identified themselves by name on my phone screen. Which is why I 1. Know they called and 2. Was able to answer them. So hiding away is obviously a choice not a commandment. And is bloody stupid to say the least.

Set your phone to accept witheld numbers and stop being part of this damn pathetic nonsense of not answering calls to witheld numbers.
It's easy to put the phone down on an unwanted call

Same here.

Allowing withheld numbers to get through to your phone is the quickest way to fix it.

If you think of all the potential reasons that the call would possibly need to be private it makes sense.

Totally normal practice in the NHS (and police etc) in my area.

You are the one creating a problem by voluntarily blocking these calls.

Agreed. Mine have always been withheld, for years. I don't know anyone who blocks withheld numbers, simply because lots of people use them. You're just as likely to get scammed by a random number...the only scam call I've ever had just came from a mobile number.

This.

As above - unblock your phone and accept withheld numbers - if it comes from NHS it won’t be highlighted as “suspected spam” by your provider. I work in the NHS and sometimes have to call my patients - I’ll let them know the number is withheld - most of my patients are over 70 - I could count on one hand how many don’t allow withheld calls.

Normal practice so that people don’t try and phone a hospital or GP switchboard back .

I’m a doctor and often makes calls from my own mobile when working from home . I withhold my number . You need to stop your phone screening withheld numbers . Then if you know that you might be expecting a call you can answer the phone .

This is you being silly not the surgery.

I dont know anyone that blocks withheld numbers and anytime I'm phoned by scammers its always with mobile numbers.

I don't know anyone who blocks all withheld numbers for this very reason.

Same as above, I often call my patients from my work mobile, which withholds the number so I don't get patients calling me when I'm not working, both for my wellbeing and so patients don't leave urgent medical concerns on my voicemail rather than seek available healthcare options

I’d unblock withheld numbers.

Most scammers call in mobile numbers these days plus if you have an iPhone it says suspected spam when they ring.

Been like this for years, if I get a withheld number, I know it’s always the hospital or GP, so I always answer.

I have an iPhone 15 and several others before it and it has never said suspected scam. How do you open that function?