This publication coincided with the implementation of the new GP contract in April 2004, which meant that doctors were no longer obliged to provide out-of-hours (OOH) cover and could choose to opt out of the service entirely. Under the new contract arrangements, the responsibility to ensure OOH cover is available for all patients, transfers to local primary care trusts (PCT).

This publication seeks to encourage the provision of out of hours cover from local community mutual organisations. New bodies will be established, with a membership drawn from GPs, other healthcare staff, administrative staff, and potentially patients from the local community. Existing GP Co-operatives will also be encouraged to transfer to these new arrangements.

In researching this publication, Mutuo facilitated a number of seminars that brought together representatives from GP co-operatives, PCTs, the Department of Health and the mutual sector. This publication has been informed by the discussions that took place at those events.