A new out-of-hours GP service for people needing urgent medical treatment will take over the whole of the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust area on October 1.

A private company called Wiltshire Medical Services, set up by three North Wiltshire GPs, will take responsibility for all out-of-hours care but the procedure for patients will not change, the PCT assures potential patients.

The changes are a result of a Government initiative to take pressure off GPs by handing over the out-of-hours services to the primary care trust.

The Kennet and North Wiltshire PCT decided to put the project out to tender and the new company was awarded the contract.

The PCT says the changes will have little effect on the public but hopes the patients will enjoy a more modern, high quality and consistent local service.

Director of commissioning Debra Elliott said: "Patients should notice very little difference in the provision of out-of-hours service. When fully developed the new service will offer links into other branches of out-of-hours care."

Out-of-hours services are provided every day from 6.30pm until 8am and all day weekends and Bank Holidays.

Saturday morning surgeries currently offered by some practices will be incorporated into the new out-of-hours service. All GP practices in this area have chosen to opt out of providing out-of-hours care, although some individual GPs have chosen to provide some cover through the new service.

Wiltshire Medical Services Ltd a commercial company was set up by Dr Jamie Brosch, from Chippenham, Dr Andrew Cowie, from Corsham, and Dr Martin Searle, from Calne.

They have had several years' experience running the North Wiltshire Doctors' Co-operative and under the new arrangements will cover all of the Kennet and North Wiltshire PCT area, apart from a few areas on the borders, which will be covered by neighbouring PCTs for expedience.

In Kennet and North Wiltshire, out-of-hours from October 1, patients should call (01249) 456530 to contact the service this number will also be given out on the answering service at their GP surgery.

As the service develops, they will be automatically transferred to the out-of-hours service.

Out-of-hours calls will be answered by either call handlers or nurses, who will ask some general questions and may be able to give advice straight away, or they may pass the patient to a triage nurse for full assessment.

The nurse may give advice over the telephone, arrange for the patient to go to a treatment centre or arrange for them to see a doctor. The nurse can also arrange a home visit if necessary.

In Kennet and North Wiltshire the treatment centres are the community hospitals in Devizes, Chippenham, Savernake and Malmesbury during their normal opening hours.

Outside normal opening hours patients will be asked to attend a 24-hour community hospital in Devizes or Chippenham.