AN Andover couple had to wait over seven hours before a doctor on the new out-of-hours service arrived to see their sick child.

Seven-month-old Mason Ar-dron had slept only 10 hours out of 48 and was running a temperature.

So on Saturday night his mum, Rachael, contacted NHS Direct to seek advice. "I didn't want to go straight to the out-of-hours service because I wanted to find out whether it was necessary first," said Mrs Ardron of Tintagel Close.

NHS Direct proved very helpful and advised her a doctor should see her son.

Their older son had suffered from febrile convulsions - a condition that occasionally produces fits - and they were afraid Mason might have had the same problem because of similar symptoms.

Mrs Ardron rang the out-of-hours number at 11.45pm to be told a doctor would be at their home within two hours.

In the meantime Mrs Ardron did all she could to reduce Mason's temperature - running at 39.5C.

"We placed him in front of a fan and tried to cool him down with a wet sponge," she said. "I even took him for a walk out in his pushchair."

By 2am there was still no sign of a doctor so she rang the service again. They told her they had to prioritise cases but said a doctor would be there as soon as possible.

She rang again at 6.45am and was told she was one of two people left on the doctor's list.

When he finally arrived at 7.15am he diagnosed Mason with having severe tonsillitis and prescribed antibiotics.

Five minutes after leaving he returned to say he had over-prescribed the dosage. It should have been 2.5mls four times a day not 5mls four times a day.

"To be honest he looked genuinely tired," said Mrs Ardron. And she added: "I read in the paper that we would not notice the difference with the new service.

"But to me it has made a difference and I believe it should be thought through a little better."

Meanwhile, Mason is recovering well.

A spokeswoman for Mid Hampshire Primary Care Trust said they were unable to comment about the case because it was the first time they had heard about it.

The trust would, she said, be contacting Mrs Ardron to see if she wanted to make a formal complaint and for permission to carry out an investigation.