A COLWALL grandfather who had to drive his feverish grandchild 20 miles through bad weather to see a doctor said the Herefordshire out-of-hours GP service must improve.

Paul Hothersall is concerned about the way two of his grandsons were treated.

He said: "When a boy has a temperature of 104F, having to go out at night in such appalling conditions is not good at all."

Mr Hothersall called the out-of-hours number at 3pm on Saturday, November 21, when his visiting five-year-old grandson became unwell.

After speaking to a nurse, then a doctor, he was told to report to Hereford Health Centre, 20 miles away, at 8pm. Mr Hothersall reluctantly agreed to make the journey through sleet, snow and rain, arriving at the health centre at 8.30pm. After a long wait, his grandson saw a doctor and the family eventually arrived home at 10.30pm.

Mr Hothersall said he was also unhappy about the way another grandson was treated by the out of hours service.

He said that on Saturday, December 4, the four-month-old boy was very unwell. His parents called the out-of-hours number at 2.20pm and were told to take him to Ross, Hereford, Leominster or even Abergavenny.

Mr Hothersall's son said they could not travel so far in poor weather but, as they lived in Malvern, could take him to Worcester. This was refused, as his GP is in Herefordshire.

Mr Hothersall said a doctor eventually arrived at 8.40pm.

Simon Hairsnape, for Herefordshire Primary Care Trust, said Primecare, a private company, had been contracted to provide out-of-hours services in Herefordshire. "In general it's a very good service," he said. "Hundreds and hundreds of people use it a week."

Anyone in Herefordshire who needs medical attention outside normal surgery opening times should call 0845 6008182. Patients in Worcestershire should call 0845 6090669.