A SENIOR health chief says most people will not notice the difference when a new out-of-hours doctors system is introduced later this year.

Under Government guidelines, GPs across Hambleton and Richmondshire have been given the option of withdrawing emergency cover at night and over the weekends - and all of them have confirmed they will be taking it.

At a meeting of Richmondshire District Council's community and environment overview and scrutiny committee last week, primary health care trust chief executive, Chris Long, said surgeries offering their own emergency cover have been in the minority for some time.

He said most GPs in the two districts are already linked to the North Yorkshire Emergency Doctors network, which is preparing a joint bid with the Tees East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service to cover the Hambleton and Richmondshire districts.

A panel set up to establish public mood on the changes, highlighted concern that, under the new system, patients may have to travel some distance to clinics or that they could find themselves discussing medical conditions with a call-handler rather than a GP.

Mr Long stressed that under a new system to be piloted in upper Wensleydale, out-of-hours calls will be forwarded to a network doctor who will then have four options.

The doctor can either offer advice over the phone, agree to a home visit, invite the patient to attend treatment centres at either Aysgarth or Catterick Garrison, or dial 999 for an ambulance.

Saturday morning clinics may also be arranged at either treatment centre, if there is sufficient demand, while taxis will be supplied for patients who are otherwise unable to travel.

Network doctors will also have a medically equipped 4x4 vehicle with a driver who knows the area.

Mr Long added the service works well elsewhere. "In fact, most people who already use it in Richmondshire probably don't realise they're not dealing with their own surgery, so I suspect few will notice the difference."