HEALTH chiefs have been warned they could face strong opposition if patient centres replace out-of-hours doctors in parts of the Dales.

A review started in Richmondshire before a national initiative offered GPs a choice over whether or not to operate duty rotas at night and over the weekend.

It is now feared the majority of local surgeries could opt out and patients will be referred to health centres to be established by the Hambleton and Richmondshire Primary Care Trust.

Alternatively, they could be offered advice over the telephone in the same way as NHS Direct has operated.

Although no decisions have yet been made, research across Richmondshire suggests people already have considerable reservations about the potential for a new system.

Those who live in more remote communities are worried they may have to travel up to 30 miles to reach one of the centres.

A number of people also wanted reassurance that, if they had to resort to taking advice over the telephone, the person offering it would be qualified to help.

Yvonne Peacock chairman of Richmondshire District Council's community and environment overview and scrutiny committee, said: "Our review was carried out in order to ensure we are better informed and more able to suggest suitable recommendations to the changes which may be forced upon us by the new GP contract.

"We know these changes will be of real concern to local residents.

"The results of our review will now be passed to the primary care trust and its representatives will be invited to a meeting next month so we can discuss them.

"We should emphasise that, although doctors can opt out of out-of-hours services from April next year, it doesn't mean it will happen overnight."

The results of the Richmondshire patient survey will also be presented to North Yorkshire County Council's health scrutiny committee and to the Tees Health Services Review for further comment.

Chief executive of the Hambleton and Richmondshire Primary Care Trust, Chris Long, said: "We understand and share the concerns of people.

"We are currently looking at alternative solutions in conjunction with GPs and councillors."