Pembrokeshire doctors and local health experts have welcomed changes to GP out-of-hours cover as a major step forward to modernising the NHS. Patients have been reassured that they will still be able to see a doctor for urgent medical problems as major changes to the way out-of-hours cover is provided come into effect next month. From September 1, the responsibility of organising cover outside working hours moves from the GPs to Pembrokeshire Local Health Board. Known as 'Care on Call Pembrokeshire', it will replace Pembrokeshire Doctors on Call. Chairman Chris Martin said the Local Health Board was on target to deliver a smooth transition so that patients will notice little difference to the service provided. The changes are being introduced as part of the new General Medical Services contract introduced in April, which aims to improve the quality of local health services. Wales will receive an increase in funding of £100 million over the next three years to support and deliver these changes. The aim is to cut doctors' working hours and make more effective use of nurses and other health professionals, freeing up GPs to focus on the most serious and complex cases. Mr. Martin, said: "The changes to out-of-hours services will go unnoticed by most patients but will make a big difference to GPs, whose surgeries will no longer be open on Saturday morning. Pembrokeshire already has in place a first class countywide out-of-hours service and this will continue. "Anyone who requires a doctor in the evenings or at weekends will still be seen and GPs will still visit people in their own home in an emergency. " More than 40 local GPs will be providing out-of-hours cover on a rota system and at least three doctors will be on call in the evenings. Dr. Paul Goodson, said: "Local family doctors and the Pembrokeshire Local Health Board have worked closely together over the last six months to ensure a smooth transition to the new arrangements. "We are all committed to delivering safe accessible out of hours care for everybody in Pembrokeshire and are sure that we have developed a service that patients will have confidence in and accept."
