HEALTH chiefs say they are confident patient care will not be compromised despite a shortage of doctors at Williton Surgery.

Almost half of the surgery's quota of doctors are currently unable to provide regular appointments and the surgery is believed to be struggling to find locums or new staff to fill the gaps.

This week, patients were handed flyers explaining the difficulties facing the remaining doctors and appealing for people to only make "urgent" appointments.

The statement explained that Dr Taraq Waheed had left, Dr Alistair Barclay was on sick leave and unlikely to return for several months, while Dr Rachel Charles had been seconded to Williton Hospital and Dr Andrew Dayani was helping with "strategic reforms of the NHS across Somerset".

As a result, routine appointments were in short supply and those that were left would be handed out on a priority basis.

The statement said: "Regrettably, the unplanned absences have once again left the practice extremely short of appointments over the next couple of months and we are urgently working to get additional support in place as quickly as possible.

"The remaining doctors in the team are trying to see more patients in the short term where patients need to be seen.

"If your appointment request to see a doctor is not urgent and can wait, please bear with us until we have more availability."

Patients have been warned to expect additional questioning from reception staff as they try and determine who it is best for them to see and when.

"We will make arrangements to get people seen who need an appointment but may ask you to wait if it is not urgent," the statement said.

A spokesman for NHS Somerset said health chiefs were aware of the situation and believed it was very much a temporary one.

He said the local primary care trust was satisfied the practice had taken appropriate measures to ensure the remaining doctors could continue to deliver a safe and effective service to patients.

"The practice has advised its patient group of the situation and is

informing patients that appointments for non-urgent enquiries may take longer than usual to respond to.

"Patients requiring urgent medical advice from a GP can be assured that they will continue to be able to see a doctor when required.

"They have also reminded patients that should they need to seek the advice of a doctor or practice nurse urgently, they should make this clear to the reception staff and they will make the necessary arrangements," the spokesman said.

He said the remaining doctors were currently providing extra patient consultations as a result of the staff shortage, while nurse provision had also been increased.

"Several of the practice's nurses have had additional training in treating minor ailments but will fast track patients to a GP if their condition requires this," the spokesman said.

"Reception staff at the practice may ask patients more questions about their health or their reason for requesting a consultation with a doctor.

"However, this is only to facilitate timely access to the appropriate doctor or practice nurse.

"They are not carrying any evaluation of the patient's health."

The surgery is currently advertising for a new GP to join the practice but while the shortage continues, patients with minor ailments are being advised to either ask for advice at the neighbouring pharmacy or at Minehead Community Hospital's minor injury unit.