THE company responsible for providing out-of-hours GP cover in the county has gone into administration.

An independent administrator has been brought in to manage North Yorkshire Emergency Doctors (NYED), two weeks after the company revealed it was facing financial challenges.

Penny Jones, chief executive of Craven, Harrogate and Rural District Primary Care Trust (PCT) has issued a statement reassuring patients that the out-of-hours service would not be affected.

Speaking on behalf of other trusts in the county, she said: "We can reassure patients they will have access to out-of-hours cover over the holiday period if they require it.

"Our project team, a small group of senior PCT staff with a range of backgrounds, has been closely engaged with NYED over the past few weeks, wanting to ensure the provision of out-of-hours services.

"The project team will be working in close partnership with the administrator to assist him in making sure that NYED continues to function normally."

Administrator David Horner, of David Horner and Co, in York, said: "I am pleased to be able to report that an agreement has already been reached whereby the funding required to continue the business for the foreseeable future has already been secured with the assistance of the PCTs involved.

"The NYED staff and doctors can therefore be reassured that I will be working closely with the PCTs to ensure continuity of the vital service provided by NYED, and to ensure that all ongoing wages will be paid as normal, until the necessary reconstruction can be finalised."

The company operates a call centre for patients to ring when their GP is off-duty and employs doctors to give advice over the phone, treat people at a surgery or make home visits.

It has been criticised by community leaders, particularly in the Richmondshire area, who feel patients are not getting the service they need.

A further announcement on the progress made by the administrator is expected in the new year.