DOCTORS say Dorset patients are receiving a worse out-of-hours service following a re-organisation that has been branded shambolic by MPs.

Dr Tom McKinstry, a GP in West Moors who is a spokesman for the British Medical Association in East Dorset, said: "Most of my colleagues believe that patients are not receiving the same service as before.

"In Dorset there were teething troubles at the start, although it seems to be operating better now."

He attributed the problems to a shortage of doctors prepared to take this work which means patients often have to rely on paramedics and other health care professionals out of hours.

He said that it was difficult for doctors talking to patients on the phone to make diagnoses.

He said: "Patients do complain that they have to wait longer to see someone.

"Although in Dorset we do not have the same degree of complaints as other areas where the change has been catastrophic."

He added that patients were using accident and emergency departments for ailments that would previously have been dealt with by GPs.

The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee has branded the government's preparations for the handover of out-of-hours care from GPs to primary care trusts as "shambolic" and "riddled with flaws".

In 2004 GPs were offered the opportunity to opt out of evening and weekend care, taking a drop in salary of on average £6,000.

In Dorset out-of-hours calls are now handled by South Western Ambulance Service.

Margery Hookings, spokesman for Dorset Primary Care Trust, which has commissioned the out-off-hours care, said: "The out-of hours service is working extremely well as far as Dorset Primary Care Trust is concerned.

"There are still some people who use the service inappropriately. It's an emergency service for out-of-hours only and not for people who cannot visit a GP during the week or need general health advice.

"At the outset we felt it was right for other health professionals such as paramedics with extra training to be involved in delivering the service and this has been very successful.

"Anyone who needs to see a doctor will see one, that's a decision taken by a triage GP at the out-of-hours hub.

"But not everyone needs to see a doctor and it's entirely appropriate for their needs to be met by a nurse, emergency care practitioner or other health professional."