A NEW partnership, which aims to improve emergency cover for North Yorkshire's more isolated communities, is to be pioneered in Richmondshire.

The Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service (Tenyas) has already increased its manpower in Upper Wensleydale.

Bainbridge now boasts a station open 24 hours a day and an emergency resource centre is planned in the village in the near future.

However, a fresh agreement with the North Yorkshire Emergency Doctors (NYED) organisation should mean quicker response times in and around Richmond, Catterick, Leyburn and Reeth.

The 20 GPs on the books will be given training in emergency treatment and will be on call on a rota basis to deal with 999 calls if they are the nearest to the scene.

A fully-equipped Vauxhall Frontera and a specially-trained driver will be at their disposal.

Like much of the remainder of the Tenyas fleet, the vehicle is fitted with flashing blue and green lights and can be tracked by satellite.

"We are aware that, if we are to meet target response times in rural areas, then we need the appropriate resources,'' said Tenyas director of patient resources Tim Lynch.

"However, this initiative will also allow NYED to reach more emergencies, so it also helps to improve their efficiency.

"Satellite tracking means we will know where the vehicle is at all times so it won't be wasted. It will be asked to respond when it is the nearest to an incident.

Mr Lynch added: "We believe this is a first for the region, but we hope to increase the fleet in future to help cover other largely rural parts of the area.''

Catterick GP Dr Chris Webb said: "This is about working in partnership to ensure patients get the best possible service.

"It will enable doctors' skills to be further utilised to benefit patients. It will not affect our out-of-hours service run from the Duchess of Kent Hospital in Catterick Garrison, which will continue to offer high-class care.''

Tenyas chief executive Trevor Molton said: "The important thing is that patients get the fastest possible professional response.

"Whether the responder is a GP or a paramedic is not an issue,'' he said.