HEALTH Minister Lord Markham has attended top level discussions with local MP Rebecca Pow about future development of Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton.

Lord Markham, who is responsible for the Government’s programme of building new hospitals and upgrading existing ones, visited Musgrove to see the site first-hand and discuss plans for its upgrade.

He chaired a meeting during the visit alongside Ms Pow, who was instrumental in securing the funding for the current developments and the upgrade.

The roundtable brought together stakeholders from the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust to share views on priorities to ensure integrated join up across all sectors of health in Somerset.

Ms Pow, who represents the Wellington and Wiveliscombe areas, said: “It was a really useful meeting bringing together health leaders from wide ranging parts of the foundation trust.

“It is important to ensure plans for the new facilities work in a holistic way - out in the community and in primary and acute care.

“Getting a fully streamlined digital system for our health services is pivotal to the success of our future plans.

“At the moment, there are literally hundreds of different systems operating in the health sector in Somerset alone and these need to be carefully pulled together.

“This was something all those present at the meeting agreed on.

“This will make such a difference for patients in terms of health outcomes, speed of diagnosis and treatment, but it will also be really important in ensuring our hard-working health professionals can spend their time on what really matters rather than worrying about how to access multiple, diverse digital systems.

“Lord Markham was receptive to all the points made and I stressed to him that given the foundation trust’s unique position having already brought together community, mental health, acute, and GP practices, Musgrove has the potential to become a digital pilot that could lead the way not just locally but nationally, too.

“I will be working with local health stakeholders and Lord Markham on the future possibilities.”

Lord Markham said: “We are investing in new NHS facilities across the country so patients can access high quality care in state-of-the-art hospitals, both now and in the years to come.

“The South West will benefit from 11 new hospitals by 2030 and I have been visiting some of the sites and speaking to patients, staff, and local leaders across the region about the plans and progress.

“These hospitals and upgrades will help to improve care and allow patients to be seen more quickly, which will help to cut waiting lists – one of the Government’s top five priorities.

“In the long term, our new standardised design means we can rapidly replicate new hospitals across the country, helping to speed up construction and deliver on our commitment of 40 new hospitals by 2030.”

The Health Secretary, Steve Barclay, confirmed in May that upgrading the remainder of the Musgrove site was part of ‘Cohort 4’ and was on track for completion by 2030. 

The ambitious Musgrove 2030 programme involves developing a range of state-of-the-art medical facilities with a priority being to replace the plethora of antiquated World War Two buildings which still house key services such as maternity and the children’s wards.

This phase of development will follow the recent completion of an £11 million surgical admissions unit and a new £87 million surgical theatre complex which is underway at the moment.