HEALTH bosses want to lure local GPs back into covering the late shift in a dramatic about-turn on the controversial out-of-hours service.

Last year all GPs in the Andover area opted out of covering the overnight shift when their new contract came into force on 1 July.

At that time primary health care trusts - including Mid Hampshire - took over responsibility for out-of-hours provision.

The PCTs are currently using their 150 GPs to cover weekends and the period between 6.30pm and 11pm during the week, when the out-of-hours service receives 85 per cent of its calls.

For most of the area the Birmingham-based Primecare provides cover for the shift during the week from 11pm to 8am, when 15 per cent of calls are received.

But the system has proved unpopular and now PCTs in Mid Hampshire, Southampton, Eastleigh and Test Valley South and New Forest have bowed to public pressure and decided not to renew Primecare's contract when it ends on 30 September.

The PCTs intend to run the majority of the services themselves - which is what local people always wanted. They plan to cut costs and bring in a robust system to monitor performance.

For the full story see Friday's Andover Advertiser.