On April 1 a new breed of health professional comes on line in Darlington and the Tees Valley. Barry Nelson finds out what the new emergency care practitioners will be doing.

DRESSED in civvies and carrying a doctor's bag, there's little to tell the casual observer there is anything new about the clinician offering the medical care. But in Darlington and the Tees Valley these health professionals will be providing urgent cover when most doctors' surgeries are closed.

During the week, from 6pm until 8am the next day and over the weekend, when the surgery doors are locked, seven emergency care practitioners (ECPs) will come on duty to look after people's urgent - but not emergency - medical needs.

Emergencies still call 999 and go to hospital and NHS Direct can offer advice (0845 4647) 24 hours a day. But ailments that can't wait for the doctor and surgery hours will be directed to the new Out of Hours Service, and where appropriate, an ECP.

As one of the first regions in the country to adopt this approach, all eyes will be falling on the seven new ECPs. It is a timely development as most of the nation's doctors are about to hand over out of hours cover to concentrate on their week day care.

The seven have under gone 15 weeks' intensive training at the University of Teesside and secondments with GP practices in Darlington. All seven staff have a background in healthcare, either as paramedics or nurse practitioners. They are trained to diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions. After talking to them, patients will either be brought to the ECP centre for examination, be admitted to hospital or be recommended to see their own GPs during the day.

It means doctors will be free to concentrate on their day jobs, which is when the majority of people need to see them. It will also reduce the need for house calls.

Jackie Moore has become an ECP continuing a family tradition of working for the health service - her father served with the ambulance service.

After starting her career in the laboratory conducting blood tests, she joined the ambulance service in 1979 becoming a paramedic in 1994.

"I knew the scheme was up and coming and fancied it straight away," says Jackie, from Hartlepool. "I was already at the top end of the paramedic scale and this gives me the chance to extend my skills."

She believes the new system will be better than the one it replaces. "As ECPs, we will be dealing with acute medical conditions when people can't access their GPs. It will allow the doctors more time to devote to their surgeries."

She said surgeries and patients had been very supportive and everyone was looking forward to the new scheme.

Peter Franklin has been coming to the rescue for years - literally. After starting his career as an emergency medical technician and working as a paramedic in the Army and Royal Air Force, he spent six months with the Canada Search and Rescue Service covering an area close to the Arctic Circle.

"I was attracted by the fact that this is a new way of dealing with patients rather than taking them into hospital when they can be treated in the community," he said.

"I am proud to be among the first in the country taking up the new challenge. If you think about it, we probably know more about emergency conditions than a doctor. We will ensure people get the right treatment in the right place."