PATIENTS in Somerset needing urgent treatment should be able to access the correct level of care, a new health boss in the county said this week.

Rachel Vokes, who has been appointed to manage the NHS 111 and GP out-of-hours services across Somerset, also aims to relieve pressure on clogged up accident and emergency departments in the county’s hospitals.

She has been given the role of head of region for Somerset Doctors Urgent Care, which delivers an out-of-hours primary care service and manages the NHS 111 service throughout the county.

The company is expanding its local team as the NHS buckles under unprecedented pressures.

Mrs Vokes has worked in the NHS for more than 20 years, including the last nine years in the South West, mostly in operational management, and will work closely with other healthcare organisations to ensure efficient management of urgent care.

Mrs Vokes, who will be supported by local clinical director Dr David Fenwick, a GP who works part-time in urgent care, said: “I am relishing the new challenge at SDUC, not least leading a talented team to do the best job possible for patients.

"My aim is to ensure that people in Somerset can get access to the correct level of urgent care, while relieving pressure on A&E departments.”

John Harrison, chief executive of SDUC, said: “Rachel has a wealth of experience and it is great to welcome her to the company.

"We are growing our team of experts to reduce the burden on emergency department services by delivering urgent care to patients when they need it, freeing up emergency departments for life-threatening cases.”

SDUC works closely with other healthcare organisations in the area to ensure that patients always receive high quality clinical healthcare.

Mrs Vokes’s appointment comes shortly after the boss of A&E at Taunton’s Musgrove Park Hospital said the sheer volume of patients meant hospitals nationwide are struggling to deliver “safe care”.

Dr Clifford Mann, a consultant in emergency medicine and president of the College of Emergency Medicine, said Musgrove recently had “the busiest day I had ever experienced”, describing “situations where every time you turn round, there are another four ambulances queuing”.

He added: “We are not delivering best care and on some occasions we are not delivering safe care.

“At the moment we just have to deal with this sheer volume of patients, the pressures are overwhelming.”