RESIDENTS living in the Vale of Evesham have a new out of hours medical service.

People needing medical attention after surgery closing times will need to ring the new number - 0300 123 3211 - at a cost of less than 1p per minute.

The independent healthcare provider Take Care Now was selected by the Worcestershire Primary Care Trust earlier this year, through tender.

Since then, TCN has been providing the primary care out of hours service for Evesham and Pershore as well as working closely with the PCT and other providers to integrate and develop services for more than half a million people across the county.

Dr James Kennedy, medical director of TCN said: "We are delighted to have retained all the staff already working in the local out of hours service and added 30 more.

"In all, we have over 50 highly trained professionals operating the Worcestershire service, from six local Primary Care centres of which Evesham is one.

"Over 70% of them live in the county and will be able to add their local knowledge to the range of skills used. There will be a local management team and a local lead doctor and nurse to ensure patients the personal and efficient service they rightly expect".

Paul Bates, Chief Executive of Worcestershire Primary Care Trust said: "The PCT undertook a thorough review of the Out of Hours contract. TCN illustrated through the tender process their experience, capacity and capability to run an excellent service for patients in Worcestershire.

"We were particularly impressed with the references we received from contracts that they already run elsewhere in the country and we are confident that this new arrangement will significantly improve the service we offer to our patients.”