The hospital's emergency department (ED) has been reconfigured so patients are triaged by a nurse at the front door, either straight into ED if it's an emergency or life-threatening condition, or next door to the newly developed UTC, which can treat urgent conditions.

Katy Sizer, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust's emergency department and same day emergency care service manager, said: ‘By opening this urgent treatment centre at Yeovil Hospital, our aim is that patients with non-life threatening conditions will be seen quicker, reducing waiting times when our teams must also prioritise emergency patients.

‘It'll also means that specialised colleagues in our emergency department are freed up to treat those needing emergency or life-threatening conditions.

‘While this doesn't mean we're getting additional healthcare colleagues, by structuring the department in a different way with extra space, we'll be better able to meet the demand.'

Dr Joby Kotoor, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust's lead emergency department consultant at Yeovil Hospital, added: ‘Anyone who has been to our emergency department at Yeovil Hospital will have seen how busy it often gets, especially in the winter, and this will go a long way to ensure patients get the right care with minimal delays.'