THE Doctors Emergency Service, which provides out-of-hours cover for 150 Berkshire GPs, has taken on a fleet of 10 Kia Sportages. The service previously used Rovers, but chose the Sportages following an assessment of a range of similar vehicles. Necessary factors included reliability, good interior space and the option of four-wheel-drive to cope with harsh weather and different terrain.

Based in Reading, the Doctors Emergency Service purchased the Sportages from Betwin Motors of Goring, which provides service back-up for the fleet. Doctors Emergency Service director of primary and secondary cars Chester Pulsakowski said: 'Winters are getting worse every year so we wanted something reliable for the cold months and the Kia was by far the best choice. I cannot afford to have a vehicle go off the road for any length of time.'