HEALTH managers have agreed measures to ensure patients have access to round-the-clock cover from GPs, but it will mean the Saturday morning surgeries offered by some practices will cease after October 1.

The four primary care trusts in the county have reached agreement with the North Yorkshire Emergency Doctors' co-operative over out-of-hours cover, following the national implementation in April of a new NHS contract for GP practices.

One of the consequences is that, from October, GPs in Hambleton and Richmondshire are handing over responsibility for access to out-of-hours cover to the primary care trust.

Many GP practices already use the emergency co-operative to provide their out-of-hours service, so the main difference will be an administrative one.

Under the new arrangements, many GPs will continue to work shifts for the co-operative, ensuring patients continue to see experienced doctors with local knowledge. But the practices will no longer be responsible for providing, and paying for, the services.

However, the arrangements will mean Saturday morning surgeries provided by some GP practices in Hambleton will cease after October 1. Patients will instead access urgent treatment through the out-of-hours service.

The primary care trust says this will bring those practices into line with the majority of GP practices, locally and regionally, where Saturday morning surgeries have not been provided for some years.

Director of primary care Madeline Ruff said: "Patients will continue to receive a safe, high quality, local service, and they will still call their GP practice to access out-of-hours services, as they do now. Alternatively patients who call NHS Direct will have their details automatically transferred to North Yorkshire Emergency Doctors, if they need urgent medical attention, so that the patient does not have to make a second phone call."

Leaflets explaining the changes will soon be available at GP practices and libraries. Patients can also read the leaflet on the web site www.hambrichpct.org.uk or call the trust on (01845) 573853.