A HOSPITAL patient was left confused and angry after getting an enormous phone bill for making a routine appointment.

Wayne Marshall, 30, was charged £72.27 for a 28-minute call, made on March 14 during the day, to the 08448 220002 switchboard number of Broomfield Hospital, in Chelmsford, which works out at about £2.60 a minute.

Neither Mr Marshall nor his wife, Maria, 33, are able to work as he suffers from severe epilepsy and she from a heart condition, so they receive benefits.

The father-of-two, of Shaw Road, Witham, explained that normally his monthly British Telecom (BT) bills are no more than £40, including line rental, internet and VAT.

He said: "I was absolutely appalled. Obviously, being epileptic I'm unable to work, and £72 for that call is absolutely appalling. I hope BT have made a mistake, as if the hospital are charging that amount it's appalling. What if I hadn't checked my bill? The money goes directly out of my account."

Liz De Winton, a spokesman for Ofcom (Office of Communications), said 0844 numbers were not premium rate and should cost up to 5p a minute from a BT landline during the day.

Emma Littlejohn, a spokesman for BT, said: "Our initial investigations indicate there have been no problems, and that he has been correctly billed for the call made. If he still does not get an answer he can understand he can come back to us."

Joanne Triggs, speaking for Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust, said she had "no idea" why the call cost that much, as the number was charged at a low rate, and that if the patient wanted to contact the Trust to discuss it they would try and look into it.