ELDERLY people in the upper dales fear they will die alone in the night because of changes to out-of-hours GP cover, a member of the clergy told a health review.

The Rev Ann Chapman, vicar of Aysgarth, said many old and frail parishioners were terrified at the thought of having to make their way to Catterick Garrison for emergency medical treatment.

Giving evidence at a review of the service by Richmondshire District Council's community and environment overview and scrutiny committee, she said residents wanted to be seen locally, ideally at Aysgarth surgery.

"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," she told the inquiry at Hawes on Tuesday. "They are afraid they are going to die alone, in the cold, in the night. It is very sad."

An elderly couple near Marsett were concerned when the husband was taken seriously ill in the middle of the night. Fearing doctors unfamiliar with the area would fail to find their remote farm, the wife, who does not drive, was unsure what to do. She did not want to call 999 in case she diverted an ambulance from a more serious emergency.

Miss Chapman also heard from an elderly man who lives alone and had recent surgery to his ankle. He did not bother to call the emergency doctors when taken ill because he was unable to drive himself to Catterick.

David Carroll, of West Witton, outlined further cases. An elderly woman who collapsed at home at 6am waited until noon for a doctor and a woman had to drive her partner to Catterick for treatment, in spite of being over the alcohol limit, because a promised taxi did not arrive.

A single farmer taken ill had to ask his disabled father to drive him to Catterick, despite the elderly man suffering severe pain.

The meeting also heard evidence from Coun John Blackie, county councillor for the upper dales and chairman of the county health scrutiny committee, David Bolam, of the Patient and Public Involvement Forum, Iain Robertson, chief executive of North Yorkshire Emergency Doctors, Chris Long, chief executive of Hambleton and Richmondshire Primary Care Trust, and Dr Vicky Pleydell, a Catterick GP.

Mr Long disputed claims that upper dales residents were not receiving the service they required, but agreed they did not get the service they wanted.

He and Mr Robertson outlined options aimed at improving the situation, including flying in locum doctors from Germany, video consultations and using Bainbridge ambulance station to assess patients.

Coun Blackie said only a handful of patients had been seen at Aysgarth since the new arrangements began in April.

Mr Robertson said duty doctors took into consideration all the patient's circumstances before making a decision about how to deal with an incident.

The district scrutiny committee was asked by North Yorkshire County Council's health scrutiny committee to review the out-of-hours service. A further meeting will examine a draft report before the final version goes to the county around the end of November.

* See 'Video link to GP', page 3