THE MP for Wellington has persuaded health ministers to visit him and the NHS to discuss the need for investment in Taunton’s Musgrove Park Hospital.

Gideon Amos (Liberal Democrats, Taunton and Wellington) has stressed the need to fund a new maternity and paediatric unit, as well as improving minister’s understanding on Somerset NHS Trust’s work on mental health.

Mr Amos addressed Wes Streeting, the secretary of state for health and social care, and Stephen Kinnock, the minister of state for health and social care, in Parliament by saying: "Taunton and Wellington is a trailblazer in taking mental health from hospital to community and from sickness to prevention.

“The trust is the first in the country to merge mental health with the hospital trust".

In response, Mr Kinnock said: "It sounds like there is some interesting, dynamic and innovative work going on in the areas the Honourable Gentleman mentioned. I would be happy to meet him to discuss it further".

During December 2024, of the 7,291 patients seen in accident and emergency at Musgrove, a total of 790 were not discharged, admitted or transferred within 12 hours of arrival and following treatment – 10.8 per cent of the overall attendance in the ward.

The hospital also recently announced a “critical incident” as it faced extremely high demand on its services over the winter months. Mr Amos says the government needs to grip the crisis in Somerset’s health service which is "putting patients at risk.”

Mr Amos added: “These figures show the true extent of the massive pressure on our NHS after years of under investment and lack of government attention by the last administration.

“We urgently need the investment for which Musgrove Park has been waiting for far too long.”