OUT-OF-HOURS healthcare looks set to be revolutionised in north Essex.

The primary care trust serving Colchester and Tendring is looking to set up a “one-stop-shop” for overnight care.

The new service could link out- of-hours GP services, district nurses, mental health crisis teams, palliative care and social services through one phone number.

Details were revealed as NHS North East Essex planned to plug a £78million black hole in its finances in the next four years.

The trust has already held off renewing its contract with Harmoni, which runs the out-of-hours GP service, from 6.30pm until 8am. A temporary contract has been signed while NHS North East Essex draws up plans for the replacement service.

Sallie Mills Lewis, the trust’s director of delivery, said: “We are looking at a review of everything we do.

“There are a number of providers providing urgent care. There is a feeling it could be of better benefit to patients if we joined up that pathway in an integrated way and explored having fewer providers.

“It may well be in the long-term we have a co-ordinating provider, with whom you sub-contract.

“The aim is to have smoother and better outcomes for patients.’’ It is likely any plans will tie in with a national non-emergency health number, 111, which could replace NHS Direct.

The new number would deal with situations where patients needed fast medical attention that did not require a 999 call.

The system is being tried out in four areas and is expected to be introduced nationally by April, 2013.

Ms Mills Lewis said: “There are lots of models.

“We are working through what would be the best model for urban Colchester and more rural areas.’’ Detailed plans of exactly how the system would work are expected to be announced in about nine months.

A report will then go before primary care trust directors, as well as bosses of the new GP organisation, which is expected to take over the purse strings for healthcare budgets in 2013.