HEALTH officials have defended emergency out-of-hours GP cover after criticism from community leaders.

A public meeting heard how elderly patients in Wensleydale feared dying alone at night because of changes in the out-of-hours service.

The new system means patients ringing an emergency number speak to a duty doctor, who may offer advice, make an appointment at Catterick surgery, or arrange a visit. But at the meeting in Hawes, health chiefs were told elderly residents wanted to be seen locally.

The Rev Ann Chapman, vicar of Aysgarth, said: "They don't want to think about travelling a long distance. They don't want to be afraid of being ill in the middle of the night. They are afraid they are going to die alone, in the cold, in the night - it's very sad."

Calls were made for improvements of the service, including reintroducing Saturday surgeries in Aysgarth.

But Chris Long, chief executive of Hambleton and Richmondshire Primary Care Trust, said: "People are getting a robust and safe service and, if they need a home visit by a GP, they are getting one and will continue to do so."

Health bosses are looking at establishing video links from Bainbridge ambulance station to connect patients in the Dales to doctors in Catterick. Paramedics or nurses could also be used to assess if a patient needs to see a GP.