The consultant now leading private patient care at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton says the public are often unaware NHS hospitals provide such a service.

Surgeon Paul Mackey has taken over as clinical lead at the Parkside Unit at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton. Together with the Kingston Wing at Yeovil District Hospital, they make up the Somerset Private Patient Service.

On average, the service treats about 135 patients each month in Taunton and Yeovil.

Mr Mackey said: “If you are opting for private healthcare there are huge advantages to having that in a large hospital, for one thing the reassurance of having 24 hour intensive care on hand should it be needed, which comes with being part of a leading NHS hospital.

“But I think there are a lot of people unaware that this service exists and therefore don’t have all the facts to help them make the right decision.”

Sarah Porter, who is private patient manager at Parkside, said the other advantage was that money generated from private patients goes straight back into the NHS. She said: “That is a huge benefit to the hospital – and the community as a whole.”

Orthopaedic Surgeon Matthew Hall is Clinical Director at Yeovil Hospital’s Kingston Wing. He said: “At Taunton and Yeovil we have a philosophy of ‘private experience with NHS peace of mind’ and we think that is what sets us apart from other private hospitals.

“Making the right decision about where to receive your healthcare is such an important one.”