Brand new surgical centre opens at Musgrove Park Hospital

Patients across Somerset are set to benefit from faster access to surgery, state-of-the-art facilities and an improved overall experience following the opening of a major new surgical centre at Musgrove Park Hospital.

The development, built by Kier, brings together operating theatres, endoscopy services and theatre admissions within a purpose-built facility, designed to support patients before, during and after surgery, as well as a new intensive care unit.

The new centre – called King’s Building – includes eight operating theatres, six endoscopy rooms and a 22-bed intensive care unit, providing modern facilities for both patients and colleagues while creating additional capacity to help reduce waiting times for treatment.

The opening marks a major step forward in the transformation of healthcare services in Somerset and has been designed with future developments in mind, ensuring services can continue to grow to meet the changing needs of the county’s population.

Health Minister, Alison McGovern, said: “The opening of the King’s Building is a major milestone for Musgrove Park Hospital. By bringing operating theatres, endoscopy services and intensive care together in one purpose-built centre, we can increase capacity, improve patients’ experience and help more people get the treatment they need sooner.

“This major investment will give clinical teams the modern buildings, equipment and technology they need to deliver better care for patients now and in the future.”

Martin Wilkinson, chief operating officer for NHS England South West, said: “Surgical hubs are making a real difference as coverage increases in the south west, so it’s excellent to see this latest unit come on stream.

“Having state-of-the-art buildings can transform the experience of surgery for staff and patients alike, as well as helping bring down waiting lists.”

David Shannon, our director of strategy and digital development, says: "The opening of our new surgical centre is a hugely important milestone for patients, colleagues and healthcare services across Somerset.

"This is a modern, purpose-built facility that has been designed around the needs of our patients and the teams who care for them.

“It gives us additional capacity, creates a far better experience for patients, and provides an environment that supports the very best care.

"The King’s Building will enable us to open additional operating theatre lists, helping more patients receive the treatment they need while supporting our long-term plans for improving healthcare services across the county."

One of the most significant developments within the new centre is the introduction of dedicated hybrid operating theatres, bringing advanced imaging technology and surgery together in a single location.

Miss Natasha Chinai, one of our consultant vascular surgeons, says the new facilities will transform care for vascular patients.

"Over recent years vascular surgery has continued to evolve, with many procedures now using minimally invasive techniques supported by advanced imaging technology.

"Until now, patients requiring both endovascular treatment and open surgery often needed to have different parts of their care delivered in separate locations. The new hybrid theatre allows us to bring those elements together and provide their full procedure under one anaesthetic.

"It means we can offer truly integrated hybrid interventions in the right setting for our patients. This will help reduce the length of time people spend in hospital, reduce the need for additional admissions and provide a much more seamless experience.

"We've always been a progressive vascular service, and this new facility enables us to deliver the type of care that represents best practice. The larger theatre spaces and specialist equipment will allow us to do what is right and best for our patients."

The centre's operating theatres have been built to the latest standards and equipped with advanced lighting, imaging and digital technology, while also providing capacity for future developments such as robotic-assisted surgery.

Mr Tom Edwards, one of our consultant general surgeons, says: "This new centre represents a significant step forward for surgical services in Somerset.

"Theatres have been designed around modern clinical practice and give surgical teams access to state-of-the-art imaging and technology during procedures. The addition of hybrid theatres also creates exciting opportunities for combined surgical and image-guided treatments.

"The overall design of the building improves the flow for patients and colleagues alike, with operating theatres linked closely to surgical inpatient areas and support services, helping us provide more efficient care."

Patients requiring intensive care will also benefit from a purpose-built unit featuring single ensuite rooms, increased natural light and access to outdoor space.

Dr Fiona Dempsey, one of our consultants in intensive care and anaesthesia, says: "We are excited to be moving into our brand-new 22-bed intensive care unit.

"Every patient room has been designed to provide greater privacy, dignity and space for both patients and their families. It also creates a better environment for colleagues delivering complex care and responding to emergencies.

"The new unit is bright, modern and designed to maximise natural light, with access to an outdoor balcony space. We know these features can make a real difference to the experience and recovery of critically ill patients.

"Most importantly, this move enables us to continue providing high-quality, patient-focused care in an environment that has been specifically designed to support our patients' needs."

The new endoscopy unit has also been designed to improve comfort, privacy and dignity for patients while supporting the future training and development of specialist colleagues.

Dr Emma Wesley, one of our consultant gastroenterologists, says: "For many years our teams have provided excellent care in facilities that weren’t originally purpose-built for endoscopy, but this new unit changes that completely.

"Patients will benefit from modern surroundings designed around their needs, alongside state-of-the-art equipment and clinical spaces that support high-quality care.

"This represents a major investment in the future of endoscopy services in Somerset, and we are incredibly proud to be opening such an outstanding facility for our patients."

The surgical centre has been designed with wellbeing in mind, featuring dedicated colleague facilities, visitor areas and landscaped outdoor spaces, including a central courtyard supported by the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust NHS Charity.

It’s the latest major investment in healthcare facilities at Musgrove Park Hospital and forms part of the trust's wider programme of improvements to services and hospital infrastructure across Somerset.

Gideon Amos, MP for Taunton and Wellington, said: “The new surgical unit is the culmination of years of hard work by many, and the dedication of NHS staff who have made it happen.

“The unit will be a huge boost to patients at Musgrove Park and is exactly the sort of investment our NHS needs.

“It’s replacing some of the World War Two era buildings, which demonstrates how much we need the government to green light our new maternity unit to replace the rest.

“I'm delighted that signatures on my petition on Musgrove's next most important project have now topped 2,500.”

Matt Griffiths, health sector director, Kier Construction, said: "The works here with Somerset NHS Foundation Trust represent far more than just a new healthcare facility.

“This major investment has supported local jobs, the supply chain and economy, and will ensure people across Taunton and wider Somerset have access to modern, high-quality care closer to home.

“Strategic programmes of work such as this are vital to the future of healthcare provision across our NHS estates. They are complex to deliver successfully and require years of collaboration, innovation and commitment from everyone involved.

“Maintaining vital hospital services throughout the complex phases of delivery was critical, making the completion of the King’s Building a tremendous achievement and a real testament to the dedication of Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, Kier and the wider project team.”