THE company which has handled out-of-hours calls to doctors' surgeries across Hampshire since last summer has lost its contract.

Health bosses announced last night that Birmingham based Primecare would cease operating the service from September.

Instead, out-of-hour calls will be handled by primary care trusts in Southampton, Eastleigh and Test Valley South, New Forest and mid-Hampshire in a bid to improve the service and reduce costs.

Hampshire Ambulance Service has already been approached to provide the call handling, telephone assessment and patient transport.