Doctors' surgeries across Sussex are continuing to use 084 phone numbers six months after a deadline for their removal has passed.

A report has revealed two practices in Brighton and Hove, 10 in East Sussex and 23 in West Sussex all use the numbers instead of local dialling codes.

Campaigners say this means that some patients may find themselves paying more to call their GP, particularly if they are using a mobile phone.

The Department of Health issued directions to NHS organisations which effectively banned the use of numbers that are more expensive than geographic rate numbers such as those beginning with 01.

Surgeries were given until the end of March this year to switch their numbers to the equivalent local area code.

David Hickson, who is campaigning to urge primary care trusts to make sure all GP practices follow the guidance, called on the county's MPs to step up the pressure.

He said: “Some practices claim that patients do not pay more to call their 084 number than to make an equivalent call to a geographic number."

For the full story see today's Argus.