News that SERCO has been given a twenty day deadline to improve Cornwall's failing Out of Hours Health Service has received a cautious welcome from the MPs that helped secure it.

Following Tuesday's parliamentary debate, Truro and St Austell MP Matthew Taylor won a promise from Health Minister Andy Burnham that he would take a personal interest in ensuring the out of hours service was up to standard.

"When I met with SERCO last week they told me it would take up to six months to make the necessary improvements to the out of hours service, which would mean that almost half of their three year contract had been spent in chaos. It is perfectly reasonable for patients to expect a good service from the start, especially as that's what they had been used to. Employing the staff to provide a quality service means no more cutting corners, and if that requires SERCO spending more that is simply what they'll have to do," said the MP.

"The fact that the PCT is taking a stand and imposing a twenty day limit is encouraging. I'm just sorry that it took a Parliamentary debate to get here."

MP for West Cornwall & Isles of Scilly, Andrew George, said: "It would be a pity if SERCO were let off the hook with what could only be seen as eleventh hour special pleading. I think it would be difficult for the company to reassure the public that they are capable of a long-term resolution of the need for a reliable Out of Hours GP service after what we've experienced in the last ten months."

SERCO's three year contract is up for early review in April, and the PCT have not ruled out the possibility that it will be suspended.