EMERGENCY care provision in County Durham is due for a shake up as a result of a new scheme - the first of its kind in the country.
The five primary care trusts which serve the county are working together to provide a comprehensive system for dealing with patients out of hours.
The pilot scheme involves further training for nurses and paramedics who will become Emergency Care Practitioners (ECPs).
Ann Donnan, planning lead for the primary care trusts, said: "The new Emergency Care Practitioners will be able to diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions."
It is hoped they will relieve pressure on GPs and ambulances by taking on some of their services, such as home visits and patient assessments.
The ECPs will begin work from 1 April next year and will serve the Darlington, Durham and Chester-le-Street, Easington and Sedgefield and Durham Dales regions.
Training has already begun for 42 specialists at Teesside University. The health workers will also undergo on the job training in various region practices.
In future, patients needing treatment after 6pm or over the weekend will be able to ring a number and be referred to an ECP or a GP.
Mrs Donnan said: "The ECPs will be highly trained and highly skilled and always have the back up of a doctor."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article