EXMOOR farmer and Conservative campaigner James Wright has launched a public campaign to protect the future of Musgrove Park Hospital’s £87 million state-of-the-art surgical facility as the new Labour Government reviewed the feasibility of promised hospital projects across England.

Mr Wright said the review, announced by Health Secretary Wes Streeting, raised concerns for future vital healthcare improvements in Somerset and suggested Musgrove’s surgical facility project could be at risk.

He said although 20 hospital schemes had been deemed ‘safe to proceed’, a further 25, including Musgrove Park, were subject to the review to assess their ‘affordability and deliverability’.

Government funding for Musgrove’s new surgical centre was secured by former Conservative MP Rebecca Pow, who lost her seat in July’s General Election.

Construction work started in July of last year and it was planned to be opened by the summer of 2025.

Since the election, Labour has already scrapped £15 million funding for a new railway station in Wellington which had also been secured by Ms Pow, although the Government said it might still be reviewed.

Mr Streeting cited rising costs and public financial challenges as key factors in his decision, stating it would be irresponsible to offer ‘false hope’ for all of the projects promised in the Conservative Party’s 2019 manifesto.

The ongoing review will be co-ordinated by the Treasury, Department of Health and Social Care, and NHS England.

Mr Wright said he was ‘deeply concerned’ over the review’s potential impact on local healthcare services.

He said: “This £87 million project is not just a number on a spreadsheet, it represents a transformative future for healthcare in West Somerset.

“We are talking about shorter waiting times, improved outcomes, and state-of-the-art facilities that will serve our community for decades.

“While I recognise the pressures on public finances, cutting this funding would be disastrous for local people.

“I am calling on all residents to join me in this campaign to ensure that Musgrove Park Hospital remains a priority for the Government.

“We cannot allow this vital project to be delayed or scrapped.”

Musgrove’s new surgical centre project was designed to provide much-needed upgrades to the area’s surgical capacity, ensuring the local population benefited from the latest in medical technology and patient care.

Mr Wright said with West Somerset already facing challenges in healthcare provision due to its rural nature, his campaign had gained immediate traction among concerned residents.

He called on residents to sign a petition to save the project and protect the funding necessary to deliver the new surgical facility.

The petition, which can be found on his website and social media, is part of a larger push by Mr Wright to highlight the importance of healthcare investment in rural communities.

Mr Wright said: “In the face of Labour’s review and their comments about the feasibility of these projects, it is more important than ever that we stand together as a community.

“We cannot allow Somerset to be left behind in this review process.”

The petition and more information on the campaign can be found here.