MUSGROVE Park Hospital is holding a public engagement meeting where people can find out the latest news on the new £80 million surgical centre developments.

The event takes place on Wednesday September 4, from 1 – 2pm, at the Musgrove Park Academy lecture theatre, which is next to the main Jubilee (M&S) Concourse.

The new £80 million surgical centre will include state-of-the-art operating theatres, a critical care unit and an endoscopy suite.

And a separate £11.5 million development is also taking place to move the hospital’s surgical assessment unit closer to the hospital’s emergency department which will mean faster access to consultants and surgeons and quicker assessments for patients who may require emergency surgery.

The plans for these new facilities are nearing completion and a full planning application will shortly be submitted to Somerset West and Taunton Council.

The new surgical centre will improve patient experience as it will replace much of Musgrove’s ageing 1940s buildings where some of the most critically ill people in Somerset are cared for.

Critical care services will be provided in a modern, high quality and adaptable building that’s able to meet the future needs of patients as medicine and healthcare make further advances.

The original hospital was built during the Second World War as a temporary casualty evacuation hospital for the D-Day landings, but has become increasingly difficult to maintain.

It is expected that the first patients will be cared for in the new surgical assessment unit by late 2021 and the surgical centre by early 2024.

Dr Matthew Hayman, interim chief medical officer at Musgrove Park Hospital, said:

“We are excited to be able to share more detailed plans on our new surgical centre and acute assessment hub at this engagement event.

“We’ll be able to show people how the plans are shaping up, including artists impressions and a presentation. We are also keen to hear peoples’ views too.

“If you have any questions about the new development ahead of the meeting, please email keri.raymond@tst.nhs.uk and we’ll get your question answered.”