MORE Fylde patients are being given 24-hour GP access thanks to the expansion of an out-of-hours medical service.

Fylde Coast Medical Services started five years ago when doctors formed a co-operative to provide round-the-clock availability.

Now 152 doctors have joined up to ensure almost every GP practice on the Fylde Coast is covered while new premises with purpose-built surgeries, on Whitegate Drive, Blackpool, are being prepared ready for a move in August or September. And the expansion has come just in time with Easter meaning the surgeries will be open from 7.30pm tonight (April 1) until 7pm on Tuesday (April 6).

Currently operating from Devonshire Road Hospital, the service provides a doctor on-call throughout the night and at weekends.

It is unlikely, however, to be a patient's own doctor and they may be asked to attend the centre as a doctor is not obliged to call at a patient's home unless medically necessary.

Those taking part believe it is an essential service. One, Dr Howard Brown from Fleetwood Health centre commented: "People are pleased with the 24-hour availability of doctor's surgeries where they can ring in for advice or assurance or call in for treatment."

However, he stressed that people should not abuse the service, adding that parents with small children should always have a supply of Calpol in their medicine cupboard and some basic self-help remedies.

Pam Eaton, of the Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde Community Health Council also believes this scheme, backed by the North West Lancashire Health Authority, is the way forward.

"I am delighted that more doctors have joined this scheme and the CHC is all for it," she said.

"Of course we will continue to monitor the service closely to make sure everything is running as it should be."

To access the out of hours service, patients first have to ring their GP surgery and an answerphone message will tell them if their surgery is part of the scheme before being redirected.

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