Urgent treatment centres in Somerset closing for the day at short notice due to staffing shortages
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust runs six urgent treatment centres (UTC)
Last updated 11th Aug 2026
Urgent treatment centres in Somerset are frequently having to close for the day, or part of the day, because of staffing shortages.
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust runs six urgent treatment centres (UTC) in Bridgwater, Frome, West Mendip, Chard, Shepton Mallet and Minehead community hospitals and a minor injuries unit (MIU) in Burnham-on-Sea War Memorial Hospital.
The centres, as well as the minor injuries unit, have been seeing closures at short notice recently.
A spokesperson for Somerset NHS Foundation Trust said:
“Unfortunately, we are currently having to frequently close our urgent treatment centres (UTC) and minor injuries unit (MIU) at short notice for a day, or a portion of a day, at a time because of staffing shortages.
“Our UTCs are led by very experienced and skilled emergency nurse practitioners (ENP). There is a national shortage of ENPs and 24% of our ENP roles are currently unfilled.
“Our efforts to recruit ENPs have not been successful in the past year, but we continue to look at how we can do that at the same time as training our own and looking at different ways of safely staffing our UTCs. In the meantime, we continue to look at how we can cover shifts on a temporary basis, but this is more difficult over the summer and in school holidays.
“Some of the unscheduled closures also occur when seriously ill patients, who need treatment in an emergency department, come to a UTC instead. When this occurs, the UTC must close to stabilise the patient and ensure they are safely moved to an emergency department before it can reopen. This can delay the patient getting the life-saving treatment they need in an emergency department.
“Our advice to people is if you need treatment, please use NHS111 or the NHS Quicker app. They will advise you of the best place to go for your needs and what services are available.
“On the occasions where we close a UTC or MIU, we notify our commissioners who update the directory of service and that information informs NHS111 and the NHS Quicker app. By using NHS111 or the NHS Quicker app you will receive up to date information, including about any UTCs that have had to close for a few hours.”