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Musgrove Park Hospital

Volume 641: debated on Thursday 17 May 2018

The petition of residents of Taunton Deane,

Declares that the current condition of some of Musgrove Park Hospital’s operating theatres are not up to the high standards expected in the NHS; further that the pre-1948 buildings that house the operating theatres, intensive treatment unit and high dependency unit are now outdated and are no longer fit for purpose; further that the hospital’s plans to build a new surgical centre in a more central location would complete the redevelopment of the surgical facilities and provide six new endoscopy rooms, eight operating theatres and a further twenty-two critical care beds; and further that the patients and staff at Musgrove Park Hospital deserve the very best facilities to enable them to maintain their outstanding rating for patient care.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to support the petitioners in their efforts to raise the standards in Musgrove Park Hospital to build a new Surgical Centre.

And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Rebecca Pow, Official Report, 21 March 2018; Vol. 638, c. 355.]

[P002122]

Observations from the Minister for Health (Stephen Barclay):

Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust’s (TSFT) theatres and critical care facilities at the Musgrove Park Hospital are housed in pre-war buildings that are at risk of critical infrastructure failure due to their age and condition.

The Trust set out proposals to invest £79.6 million in the development of modern fit-for-purpose operating theatres, a critical care unit and an endoscopy unit. However, because of Taunton and Somerset Foundations Trust’s (TSFT) financial position, it is unable to finance the proposed build from funds generated and held internally. The Trust therefore made a bid for funds made available through the Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) capital bidding process.

At the Autumn budget, the Government set aside £760 million to modernise and transform NHS buildings and services in the year of the NHS’s 70th birthday. The Government recognise that Musgrove Park hospital’s theatres and critical care facilities need to be improved significantly, and have since announced that Somerset STP will receive up to £79.4 million to replace outdated theatres, endoscopy and critical care facilities at TSFT. These new facilities will provide a better patient experience, more efficient working environment, improved efficiency from better service co-location, and provide sufficient capacity to sustain services.

The allocation is subject to the standard business case approvals, including demonstrating recurrent savings and value for money. It is also conditional on the STP having a robust plan for disposing surplus land and buildings, and moving towards shared local clinical and financial accountability.

The Trust has submitted its Outline Business Case (OBC) to NHS Improvement, and it is due to go to its Resource Committee in June, following which it will come to the Department for approval through Ministers and HM Treasury, as required for all business cases over £50 million.

Following OBC approval the Trust can undertake the procurement for its scheme and it is planning to submit its Full Business Case with the full affordability and commercial arrangements to NHSI in April 2019. DHSC is committed to working with the Trust and NHS1 to expedite the process where possible.