HEALTH officials in Darlington have hailed the introduction of an out-of-hours medical care system as a major success.

The scheme, which has been pioneered in the town and neighbouring authorities in the Tees Valley area, is said to have worked smoothly since being introduced on April 1.

Fifty thousands letters were sent to patients explaining the new system.

Patients requiring assistance call a single helpline number if they are taken ill after 6pm, before 8am, or at weekends.

Darlington's director of public health, Dr Nonnie Crawford, said: "We have emailed all the GPs and the comments we have received back have been universally good.

"Patients in the main seem to be happy, and there have been no major problems with the helpline number."

Dr Richard Harker, who is chairman of Darlington Primary Care Trust's professional executive committee and a general practitioner in the town, said: "From the point of view of my own practice it is going very smoothly.

"I don't think the majority of patients even realise there has been a change, which implies the introduction has been seamless."

The introduction of the service follows a new GP contract negotiated by doctors with the Government, which allows them to opt out of providing out-of-hours services.

GPs at all 11 surgeries in the Darlington Primary Care Trust area have signed up to the new system.