HEALTH chiefs say there are no problems with out-of-hours cover, following an urgent meeting.

The North Yorkshire Emergency Doctors network (NYED) took over responsibility for responding to out-of-hours calls on April 1 when new Government guidelines allowed most GP surgeries to relinquish the role.

Upper Wensleydale county councillor and leader of Richmondshire District Council, John Blackie said, since then, a number of incidents had left residents of the area dissatisfied with the system.

A meeting took place on Wednesday night between NYED, the Hambleton and Richmondshire Primary Care Trust and the Central Dales GP practice, in Aysgarth, to examine the allegations.

Afterwards, trust chief executive Chris Long said none of the organisations had received complaints and every out-of-hours call handled since April 1 had been dealt with correctly.

Mr Long said: "I am very happy with the outcome of the meeting and very impressed with the professionalism and commitment of both NYED and the Central Dales practice in ensuring provision of a service in which we can have confidence."

Last night, Coun Blackie said he was disappointed by Mr Long's response.

"What people are saying right across the communities of the upper Dales is that the system isn't working and it seems to me as if Mr Long is burying his head in the sand," he said.

A public meeting to debate the issue will be held at 7pm, on Wednesday, May 5, at Hawes Market Hall.