Approval given for new Somerset surgical centre

The government has given final approval for the funding of a new surgical centre at Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, Somerset.

Designed by BDP and being delivered by contractor Kier, the £87M state-of-the-art centre will replace the current theatres and critical care unit, which were built during the Second World War as part of a temporary casualty evacuation hospital for the D-Day landings.

Procured through the Department for Health and Social Care’s P22 framework, the new surgical centre will include eight operating theatres, six endoscopy rooms with a patient recovery and clinical support area, as well as a critical care unit with 22 beds, specifically catering for level 2 and 3 critical care patients.

Much of the new centre will be steel-framed and it has been designed to increase capacity and ensure patients are cared for in a more modern and comfortable environment.

Nick Fairham, Principal at architecture practice BDP said: “In line with the wider modernisation and transformation of Musgrove Park Hospital, patient, staff and visitor experience is at the heart of the new surgical centre’s design.

“This includes everything from creating high dependency and recovery space immediately adjacent to the theatres so that patients remain within the care of their specialist team after their surgery, to maximising opportunity for daylight and views of the gardens.”

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock added: “I’m delighted to give plans for the new Taunton Surgical Centre the green light. The new centre will replace the oldest operating theatres still in use in England with state-of-the-art new theatres and critical care facilities.”