Mr Beith says he is concerned by the plans.

He claims rural patients will be put at an "unacceptable" risk over plans to reduce the number of night doctors from two to just one from September.

Areas affected will include Berwick, Alnwick and Rothbury, with one doctor having to cover 1,000sq miles.

But Northumberland Care Trust, responsible for the service, said patients will have access to a doctor.

The shake-up of the service begins on 1 September as part of a new contract deal for GPs.

Currently doctors at Alnwick Infirmary and Berwick Hospital are on call from midnight to 0800 to cover the north of the county.

Mr Beith, MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed, said: "The decision does not take into account travelling times in such a large rural area.

Non-profit company

"I am horrified that one doctor will be expected to cover 1,000sq miles and shall be raising the matter in Parliament."

But a spokesman for Northumberland Care Trust said: "In the unlikely event of more than one patient requiring urgent attention at the one time, a support GP will be provided from elsewhere in the county."

From September, out of hours coverage will be provided by doctors working for Northern Doctors Urgent Care (NDUC) - a non-profit making company.

Dr George Rae, north-east of England representative for the British Medical Association, welcomed the move.

He said: "Not enough GPs want to have to provide night cover because their workload is already so heavy during the day.

"From September they will be able to opt out of providing cover, which is a good thing and will certainly not leave patients in the lurch."