Concerns have been raised about a new healthcare system which will leave patients in Wallingford without access to an out-of-hours GP service in the town.

The new system, imposed across the country by the Government, will mean Wallingford people will have to telephone a central helpline and could have to travel to Abingdon or Henley for medical attention at night or at weekends.

GP surgeries will not be open between 6.30pm and 8.30am and the minor injuries unit at Wallingford Hospital will be closed at weekends. The new system is being phased in across the county at different times, but is due to start in Wallingford on September 1. It is designed to reduce the workload of GPs.

Nicola Malster, of the South East Oxfordshire NHS Primary Care Trust said: "Numbers using out of hours services are very small so we do not anticipate major problems. We are looking at the best interests of the patients."

But Wallingford mayor Theresa Jordan said: "These changes are extremely worrying. You just have to hope you never get ill overnight. Not everyone has a car and public transport at night is virtually non-existent."

No-one was available for comment from Wallingford Health Centre.