A FULL report has been called for on the reliability of satellite navigation equipment in cars used by doctors responsible for out of hours emergency cover.

The move has been made by the chairman of a county council health scrutiny committee which looked at the quality and safety of present arrangements for out of hours cover following the December's collapse of the North Yorkshire Emergency Doctors (NYED) co-operative with cash flow problems.

The system was then taken over by four primary care trusts, with Tees East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service (Tenyas) handling calls, but the committee heard that transport remained a major concern.

A Northallerton GP told the committee he had reported faults with the IT system in his car several times to Tenyas but no action had been taken.

Committee chairman Coun John Blackie said later: "I have called for a rundown on the IT equipment in all doctors' cars because it is vital that such equipment is working properly in an area like the wilds of Arkengarthdale."

The committee meeting coincided with news that a proposal to reduce out of hours emergency cover in the Ripon area had been postponed.

David Curry, MP for Skipton and Ripon, chaired the meeting at which the PCT agreed to look again at the proposal after doctors presented new information on patient numbers being treated out of hours at Ripon Community Hospital. Mr Curry had previously described the two sides as being "at war".

The proposal was originally based on patient figures disputed by doctors, who expressed their opposition in Ripon, Masham and Kirkby Malzeard.

The new arrangements were due to come into force last Friday but have been postponed for a month. A group of senior PCT staff and GPs has been established to try to agree a way forward; another meeting is scheduled for April 12.

* See Family doctors win concession: page 5