GP commissioners in North Yorkshire are setting up a new urgent care service to improve access for thousands of patients.

NHS Scarborough and Ryedale Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has selected private company Northern Doctors Urgent Care, part of the Vocare Group, to provide a range of services based at two urgent care centres at Scarborough Hospital and Malton Hospital.

Dr Peter Billingsley, local GP and CCG lead for the project, said: “The fact that we have successfully commissioned a trusted and highly experienced urgent care provider in the form of Northern Doctors Urgent Care will bring huge benefits for patient care in the area.

“Having good access to the new service was a key issue raised by local residents who felt it was essential for the two centres to have good public transport links and amble parking provision.

“Free parking is already in place at Malton Hospital and we have proposed free parking places at Scarborough Hospital for urgent care users. Significant improvements have also recently been made to the car park at Scarborough Hospital.”

The new service will assess, diagnose and treat all patients who present with urgent care needs.

This will include access to diagnostic facilities, expert advice from A&E staff and other services such as mental health.

The GP out-of-hours service will be part of the overall service and home visiting will be provided where necessary.

Two public meetings are being organized by the CCG to give people the opportunity to find out more.

The first meeting will be held at Scarborough Library on Tuesday January 13. Information about a second meeting in Malton will be announced shortly.

The new urgent care service is due to start on April 1 2015.