As with all health care services across the county, everyone can access emergency care.
If you have a need or disability, the emergency services will do everything possible to support you to get the health care you need.
An A&E department (also known as emergency department or casualty) deals with genuine life-threatening emergencies, like
- loss of consciousness
- acute confused state and fits that are not stopping
- persistent, severe chest pain
- breathing difficulties
- severe bleeding that cannot be stopped
- severe allergic reactions
- severe burns or scalds
Less severe injuries can be treated in urgent care centres or minor injuries units (MIUs). An A&E is not an alternative to a doctor’s appointment. If your doctor’s practice is closed you can phone NHS 111, which will direct you to the best local service to treat your injury. Or you can visit an NHS walk-in centre (WIC), which will also treat minor illnesses without an appointment.
How to find your nearest A&E
If you phoned 999 for an ambulance and you have to be taken to hospital, then the ambulance team will take you to the most appropriate A&E – this may not be the closest.
Most community hospitals in Somerset have accident and emergency services but 24-hour care is available. You can use the find services search on NHS Choices to see if there is one near you. Many hospitals have their own websites, which give you information about the urgent and emergency care services they offer.
24-hour services in the Somerset area include
Musgrove Park Hospital
Parkfield Drive
Taunton
TA1 5DA
Phone 01823 333444
Yeovil District Hospital
Higher Kingston
Yeovil
Somerset
BA21 4AT
Phone 01935 475122
Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital
Barrack Road
Exeter
Devon
EX2 5DW
Phone 01392 411 611
Bristol Royal Infirmary
Marlborough Street
Bristol
Avon
BS2 8HW
Phone 0117 923 0000
Royal United Hospital, Bath
Combe Park
Bath
Avon
BA1 3NG
Phone 01225 428331
Dorset County Hospital
Williams Avenue
Dorchester
Dorset
DT1 2JY
Phone 01305 251150