SOUTH Petherton saw the first signs of its new £17.5million hospital building as local dignitaries unveiled the foundation stone at a ceremony on Friday.

MP David Laws, chairman of NHS Somerset Jane Barrie, OBE, NHS Somerset Chief Executive Ian Tipney and chairman of the League of Friends Mary Robertson met at the site of the former hospital for the event.

Mr Laws said: “Thank you for inviting us here today, it is a very, very happy day indeed.

“My first time here was with Paddy and Jane Ashdown and as we made our way up the road they were saying that this was a fantastic hospital with beautiful views, but the building pre-dated the NHS.

“It's only when you see the bulldozers starting work and the new hospital's foundation stone being laid that we can relax and look forward to this superb new hospital.”

Chairman of NHS Somerset Jane Barrie, OBE, also announced that the new stroke unit will be called the Mary Robertson Stroke Unit, in recognition of all the hard work, love and effort she has put into the hospital both as former Matron and as chairman of South Petherton Hospital League of Friends.

Mrs Barrie added: “It's a very exciting day for the community in South Petherton.

“The Short Term Assessment and Reablement Service will be retained, supporting both inpatients and outreach programmes.”

The hospital is being built by construction company Laing O'Rourke on the site of the current South Petherton Community Hospital in Hospital Lane.

The new hospital will include a specialist 16-bed stroke unit - one of three in Somerset - as well as extended outpatient services, diagnostic facilities and a specialist mobility centre.