£240M.. TO STAY ON HOLD FOR YOUR GP

Tories trumpet phone technology but Labour calls for medics over müzak

-  JOHN STEVEN

HUNDREDS of millions of pounds will be spent on giving patients hold music when they call their GP.

Around £ 240 million will go on installing new phone systems in doctors' surgeries, ministers will announce today.

They said the overhaul will mean patients never get an engaged tone But it leaves the prospect of them being stuck listening to annoying tunes and repeatedly told they are in a queue as they wait for their call to be answered.

Labour last night said patients want more doctors, not "better hold music".