Under the former scheme, home visits by doctors were largely replaced with paramedic visits, telephone advice and visits to emergency centres.

Critics said the service, introduced early in 2005, was putting some patients at risk.

Andy Hall from East Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust said the latest change should improve patient care.

Some patients had complained about slow response to queries and long waits at hospital emergency centres.

'Second-to-none'

The change is the first in a series of moves aimed at trying to tackle an estimated NHS overspend of more than �2m a month in the county.

Mr Hall said the new system should improve patient care and mean better value for money.

Dr Yvonne Owen, who is helping run the out-of-hours service, said she hopes it will soon be "second to none".

In another change, Skegness Hospital is introducing a daily GP surgery next to the hospital's accident and emergency department to deal with patients.