PLANS to put family doctors and nurses in the driving seat of health services in West Somerset have been given the go-ahead by the Government.

From April this year, the Somerset Coast Primary Care Group - which covers West Somerset - will officially become a care trust, meaning health professionals locally will have even more say on how NHS money is spent in the area.

The Government hopes care trusts will be the foundation stone for developing fast, modern and convenient health services.

A typical trust will control more than 80 per cent of the health spending on its local population.

It will have new powers to provide health services such as community nursing and services for the elderly.

It will also have the power to improve patient care by working with local authorities and hospitals.

Ian Bloxham, who heads primary care for the NHS Executive South West region, said: "These groups have put in a tremendous amount of hard work and have plans that will place them at the forefront of working in new ways to provide modern, accessible health services which should be of great benefit to patients."

The Somerset Coast Primary Care Trust will be responsible for a population of 140,000 people, 96 GPs and 23 GP practices.