Services available in your local NHS this winter

As winter well and truly begins and we edge nearer to the holiday season, we’ve seen demand for our services start to increase, particularly in our emergency departments and urgent treatment centres.

Our focus continues to be on caring for people in the right way, in the right place, and at the right time – and we’ve updated this page to act as a hub of information to get you safely through winter.

NHS services are ready to care for you, but there are a number of different options on where to get healthcare support…

If you’re unsure where to go, NHS 111 will advise you of the best place to go depending on what you need, and which service is in the best position to care for you.

You can either call 111, or use NHS 111 Online.

Of course, there are some occasions where coming to the emergency department is the safest option. Our emergency departments at Musgrove Park and Yeovil District hospitals, and our local ambulance service, are available 24/7, 365 days a year for life-threatening illnesses or injuries.

Please keep these services free for those who urgently need them – if your illness or injury isn’t life-threatening but you’re not sure where to go, please contact NHS 111 first. They will be able to point you in the director of a service that might be much better suited, and much quicker than attending one of our A&Es.

If you're feeling unwell, pharmacists are fully qualified to advise you on the best course of action. Visiting your local pharmacy when you feel like you’re coming down with something (even if it’s just a seasonal cough or cold) can be the best and quickest way to help you recover and get back to normal.

Visit the NHS Somerset website for pharmacy opening times.

While it’s important to go to hospital if you are very ill or need surgery, we have hundreds of services that can bring healthcare either closer to, or directly to, your home.

We have six Urgent Treatment Centres (UTC) in our community hospitals based at Frome, Glastonbury, Shepton Mallet, Chard, Bridgwater and Minehead, as well as one Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) based at Burnham-on-Sea. Our UTCs and MIU are all run by emergency nurse practitioners – nurses with specialised training and skills in emergency and urgent care – who are supported by staff nurses and healthcare assistants.

Our UTCs and MIU provide urgent care to patients closer to where they live, keeping our emergency departments free to manage critically ill patients and those with life-threatening major injuries.

Please make sure to check your local UTC/MIU page for up-to-date opening information before attending.

We also have teams of district nurses visiting patients across the county every day, as well as our support services such as Rapid Response and Discharge to Assess. There are also prevention services such as our homeless and rough sleepers service, supporting those who need us.

You may not have heard of many of our community services, but when you need them, they can be a way to receive care and treatment without having to travel to or stay in hospital.

Hospital@Home is one of the services helping patients to stay at home. The service provides hospital treatment at home, helping patients to leave hospital sooner or avoid a hospital stay altogether, when recovering from an illness or operation, or when receiving treatment.

Patients are monitored by a team of experienced clinicians such as consultants, nurses, therapists, healthcare assistants, and social workers, via telephone, video consultations, and remote digital monitoring devices. They are constantly reviewed, as they would be in hospital, while receiving the highest level of care in the comfort of their own home.

An ever-growing area where people need support, is through our mental health services.

Somerset’s Open Mental Health Alliance offers support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – and there really is no wrong door when it comes to accessing mental health support.

Being part of the alliance means that services under Open Mental Health have a strong link to the NHS, just like the Mindline support line. Our colleagues at Mindline offer more than just a listening ear, also providing a safe place to talk for anyone experiencing distress or seeking information about mental health and local support services.

If you know or think you are experience depression, anxiety, or PTSD, and you’re registered with a GP in Somerset, you can also self-refer into our Talking Therapies service. You simply fill in the online referral form, and a member of the team will be in touch.

If you become unwell or have any concerns about your heath, including your baby’s movements, we advise you to call us as soon as possible for advice. Our maternity services will be open 24/7, including weekends and Bank Holidays, for anyone who needs us. Please do not wait until the situation becomes serious, we want to be able to see you early and ensure you get the care and support you need.

These support lines are 24 hours a day 7 days a week:

Musgrove Triage: 01823 343985

Yeovil Triage: 01935 384350

For more information about our maternity services visit the Maternity webpages(somersetft.nhs.uk).

There are lots of things you can do this winter to help look after yourself, such as getting your winter vaccinations if you’re eligible for them.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is calling on south west residents to come forward for flu vaccinations, as the latest figures show that many eligible people are still to take up the vaccine – in fact, just 31.7% of pregnant women and 32.3% of people with long term health conditions have taken up the offer of the vaccine in the south west.

You can find information on the huge range of services available in Somerset, including how to get your winter vaccinations, over on the Live Well this Winter page on the NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board website.