PATIENTS are at more risk due to out-of-hours care cuts which are "extremely unsafe" - that's the stark warning from one Ryedale doctor who has quit the service in protest.

In December, the number of GPs on duty from 11pm to 8am in Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale was cut from three to two, and a new centre was opened in Pickering for doctors to work from.

The changes were implemented by the Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale Primary Care Trust (PCT) and Primecare, the private company it tasks to provide the service.

The PCT's primary care modernisation manager Martin O'Keeffe said: "The GP out-of-hours service in Ryedale continues to be a clinically robust and safe service. The service model for the overnight session was changed following a substantial public and stakeholder consultation process and review of previous activity within the overnight session."

But a Ryedale GP based at a village practice, who does not wish to be named, said she felt the changes meant a much worse deal for Ryedale patients, and stopped doing overnight shifts for Primecare as a result.

Before, doctors were based at Malton, Scarborough and Whitby hospitals overnight. Under the changes, a centre was opened in Pickering so that two mobile doctors could be based there and at Scarborough respectively.

"It is a worse service and patients are more at risk," said the GP. "The geography of the area is so rural, and there are so many elderly patients, that it is clinically not covered to our previously very high standards.

"I and many colleagues have stopped doing this overnight shift as there is one doctor at Pickering covering hundreds of square miles stretching all the way from Whitby to beyond Helmsley. We feel this is extremely unsafe for patients."

Doctors have to transfer to Pickering at 10.45pm, she said, taking computers and equipment with them.

"There have been problems where the Pickering centre was not ready in time, or even where the driver setting up has been unable to get in."

She added: "The access is greatly reduced not improved. Although Pickering is open, there are no doctors at Whitby or Malton anymore."

A PCT spokesperson said the move had improved access for the people of northern Ryedale, and that the two mobile GPs had specially-equipped vehicles and drivers and could see patients at their most convenient centre - or in some circumstances in their own homes.

The PCT says it is still reaching National Quality Standards under the new service, as a third doctor is on standby at home, able to see patients who need an emergency visit within one hour.

Patients can still get in touch with out-of-hours doctors in the same way by ringing their surgery.

The spokesperson added that the PCT was working to ensure that the number of overnight mobile GPs will increase in bad weather or when there is increased demand.

The spokesperson added: "Changes to the overnight out-of-hours service has not only resulted in releasing funds for use in other areas of need within healthcare, but it also has produced a much more flexible service for patients."

Updated: 15:44 Wednesday, February 15, 2006