Crisis-hit emergency GP services in Bradford are set to be improved in a link-up with a new 24-hour helpline.

The NHS Direct hotline, staffed round the clock by qualified nurses, will be linked to the Healthcall service providing out-of-hours care for most of Bradford's family doctors.

Telephone lines to Leeds-based Healthcall collapsed over the Christmas holidays after they were swamped by calls due to the flu bug.

Worried patients unable to get help instead called ambulance services and went to casualty at Bradford Royal Infirmary, prompting a major crisis and leading to criticism that the GP deputising service could not cope.

A major review is under way of health services to prevent a repeat over the Millennium.

Roger Gardner, manager of Healthcall, said a number of avenues were being explored.

Calls made out-of-hours to GPs which were appropriate to be dealt with by advice from nurses at NHS Direct would be switched through.

And calls could be put through at periods of peak demand to take pressure off Healthcall.

"Remembering Christmas and New Year it is important that we have these links established so that patient access is available," said Mr Gardner.

Trevor Molton, chief executive of the Birkenshaw-based West Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service which runs NHS Direct, said it was important to provide a seamless service.

NHS Direct was set to provide a service for on-call GPs in Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield from the early summer.

"We will be working in very close liaison with Healthcall to make sure we have closed the gap," he said.

NHS Direct's call centre near Wakefield was opened by Health Secretary Frank Dobson on Wednesday as part of a network of telephone health services which will cover the country.

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