DOCTORS have urged Swindonians to think twice before calling them out at night and on weekends.

Swindon Primary Care Trust which runs the new out-of-hours service says the Shrivenham Road-based team are taking a hammering this winter.

Now doctors are asking folk to consider using other services like chemists and NHS Direct before calling them.

Dr Kandy Kandiah, who sometimes volunteers to work the anti-social shifts, said: "Sometimes patients do not need to see a GP out-of-hours. If they are taken ill at weekends and it's not serious they should wait until the Monday.

"The whole team is working very hard. Two of the members, Mark Adir and Paul Dryden both good friends of mine do a wonderful job."

In October, out-of-hours medical cover shifted from individual practices to Swindon PCT.

The shift was designed to relieve some of the burden on over-stretched doctors.

The team of 30 doctors, who provide the equivalent medical care of seven full-time doctors, are backed-up by qualified nurses.

Marilyn Hughes, of Swindon PCT, said: "It has been a difficult winter for us. Our people are tired and there is real concern over the volume of calls."

She thinks an apparent lack of common sense not funding is to blame.

Nationally, PCTs are required to invest £3 per head of a town's population in out-of-hours cover.

"Swindon PCT has invested twice the minimum required," explained Mrs Hughes.

"This is not the problem. The high demand for the service may change if people are more confident in managing their own illnesses.

"Some people do not use medical services correctly."

Mrs Hughes said Swindon PCT would work alongside Great Western Hospital, the Carfax Street Walk-In Centre and Wiltshire Ambulance Trust to educate the town.

The Swindon Public and Patient Forum an independent health watchdog has received no complaints to date from patients about the out-of-hours service.

Kevin Shoesmith