DOCTORS are, by nature, a cautious bunch. They don't like to stick their heads above the parapet and years and years of dealing with the sacrosanct ethic of patient confidentiality means their natural inclination is to keep quiet even on matters of wider public, rather than individual, concern.

Occasionally though something agitates them so much that they are stirred into action. So when they do speak out, it is worth noting that they have a serious concern well worth listening to.

And what does concern them is the decline in after hours care in a sprawling predominantly rural area like Craven.

The days of patients ringing up their GP at all times of the night are long gone. Perhaps it is our own fault. Tales of trivial queries at 3am in the morning such as "I can't sleep, can you give me some sleeping pills?" or "can you tell me how to stop my baby crying?" are legion and it's no wonder the GPs decided enough is enough.

But doctors have their patients' interests at heart and they don't like the diminution of service, especially the possibility of a six hour wait during an out of hours emergency. As the local Primary Care Trust struggles to balance its books and provide a better service, local patients do right to be worried. Our local GPs do not cry "wolf".