The Yorkshire Post reveals that a debt-ridden NHS trust gained a profit of over £100,000 last year after the start of disputable 0844 telephone numbers.

The phone bills received by patients were much higher as compared to the bills that were expected after dialing the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust. The trust runs hospitals in Wakefield, Dewsbury and Pontefract. The people dialing a number, 0844, from landline pay cost of up to 15p along with per minute cost i. e. minimum five pence during weekdays.

Protestors reveal that the number is notably more costly as compared to the number with ordinary geographic STD code. The managers are having disputes on the issue of cost.

Four different 0844 numbers are owned by Mid Yorkshire. In 2012-13, the numbers helped the trust in earning profit of £102,000. However, the profit earned in 2011-12 was £66,000 and in 2010-11, it was £60,000.

David Hickson, of the Fair Telecoms campaign, told that GPs and hospitals were taking money from patients for getting an access to the services. This was considered violation of basic principles laid by NHS.

He said, "The simple fact of the matter is that calling 0844 is in almost every case vastly more expensive - that's how they're able to get a rebate out of it, it doesn't come from thin air".