A new out of hours NHS service in Cornwall is to be run by GPs from the summer.

Following a competitive open tender process, NHS Kernow announced last Thursday that a consortium called Cornwall Health, led by Devon Doctors, with Kernow Health, will provide GP out of hours services from June 1 this year.

Devon Doctors is a GP-led social enterprise, while Kernow Health is a Community Interest Company owned by the GP practices of Cornwall GP out of hours services provide urgent care when a patient’s GP surgery is closed and they have a medical problem that cannot wait until it reopens.

Dr Mike Ellis, a GP in Penryn, is medical director of the Cornwall Health consortium and said: “We are pleased to be given the opportunity to work with the practices of Cornwall to provide this service.

“We believe that it will enable us to offer more integrated care, uniting out of hours with primary care and other local health services. It should be good news for Cornish patients and practices, as well as the urgent care services of Cornwall and Devon.”

The public will be able to access care in the same way as they do now. When the new service is rolled out patients should continue to call NHS 111 in non-emergency situations. This is available 24-hours a day, 365 days a year and, depending on their condition, appropriate help will be arranged for them.

For serious medical emergencies people should still go to A&E or dial 999.

NHS Kernow said the views of clinicians, managers and patient representatives were “instrumental” in making the decision.

Dr Iain Chorlton, NHS Kernow’s GP lead for out-of-hours, said: “We are delighted that a team of doctors and nurses will provide Cornwall’s new out of hours service.

“They know first-hand what patients need, what works and what we need to do to create a joined-up health and care system. Invaluable insight of delivering a similar service in Devon will also help strengthen our partnership in the north and east of the county.”

The system was previously run by Serco, but its contract was ended early.