A&E services elsewhere in Somerset are being temporarily closed overnight due to safety concerns - and people are being advised to come to Taunton instead. 

Weston General Hospital A&E will be temporarily closing from July 4 as the North Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group isn't confident the services can be delivered safely overnight. 

The department will be closed between 10pm and 8am. 

Patients are being advised to travel to Taunton or Bristol if they are in need of care. 

But Musgrove says it's prepared and arrangements are in place.

Matthew Bryant, chief operating officer at Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We have assessed the impact that this temporary closure will have on Musgrove Park Hospital and expect it to be relatively small, with an average of one North Somerset patient a night being admitted here.

“All the necessary arrangements are in place, and we are continuing to support our partner organisations to ensure that safe and responsive urgent and emergency care is available for all those who need it.”

The latest CQC report for Weston Hospital rated the hospital's emergency and urgent care services as "inadequate" which has led the CCG to make changes. 

Dr Mary Backhouse, North Somerset CCG Clinical Chairman, said: "Patient safety is our number one priority. It is important and welcomed that the Trust has accepted the report findings in full and recognises that urgent action is necessary, particularly in maintaining a safe level of staffing within its A&E service."

"As a local doctor, I agree that it is right to make a temporary closure to Weston A&E between 10pm – 8am until we are confident the hospital can deliver a safe and sustainable service throughout the night. We know this will affect a relatively small number of people, less than 21 a night, and are working hard with Weston Hospital and our local NHS partners to put alternative arrangements in place."

The CCG says the overnight closure is temporary, but no date has been given when it will reopen.