Poor access to a doctor at weekends has been cited as the main reason for a growing number of complaints from members of the public.

On rare occasions the consequences have been fatal. The most high-profile victim was Penny Campbell, a 41-year-old journalist who became ill and died during a bank holiday weekend despite the attention of eight doctors.

Ms Campbell, a mother of one began to feel ill on Good Friday in 2005, two days after a surgical operation, but was unable to contact her GP. She was instead advised by a series of doctors working for Camidoc, a private company contracted to provide out-of-hours cover.

Angus MacKinnon, Ms Campbell’s partner, said that her death from blood poisoning, would have been avoided if she had been able to see her own GP.

“I’m fairly confident that if Penny had been seen by a doctor from her own surgery, then you would not have had a situation where you can be seen by eight doctors, none of whom could diagnose correctly,” he said. “The reform was introduced without any kind of pilot scheme, which is absurd.”

Molly Wells, a toddler, nearly died in 2004 when a doctor failed to recognise the symptoms of appendicitis. Victoria Wells, the child’s mother, tried to ring her GP but her call was diverted to another doctor covering for the service. She said that her usual doctor would have known that Molly’s condition was serious.

“The doctor I spoke to on the phone made me feel like a neurotic mum, whereas my own GP would have known that I’m not the worrying type,” she said.

Tony Lockyer complained about the out-of-hours service in Penygraig, South Wales, after his 84-year-old mother fell ill on a Saturday. He was put through to a doctor 160 miles away, who suggested that his mother attend accident and emergency.

When she was finally treated, it emerged that she had suffered a heart attack.

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