PROPOSALS for two multi-million pound developments at Musgrove Park Hospital were shown off to the public at a special event.

On Thursday (July 11) bosses from Musgrove Park Hospital displayed their plans to the public in the hospital's education centre and spoke to members of the public about the benefits the new facilities could bring to the community.

Visitors had the chance to look at artist impressions of the new facilities and ask bosses questions about the plans.

The hospital wants to build an £80million surgical centre with state-of-the-art operating theatres, a critical care unit and an endoscopy suite.

The new centre will include state-of-the-art operating theatres, a critical care unit and an endoscopy suite.

And a separate £11.5 million development is also taking place to move the hospital’s surgical assessment unit closer to the hospital’s emergency department which will mean faster access to consultants and surgeons and quicker assessments for patients who may require emergency surgery.

The plans for these new facilities are nearing completion and a full planning application will shortly be submitted to Somerset West and Taunton Council.

The new surgical centre will improve patient experience as it will replace much of Musgrove’s ageing 1940s buildings where some of the most critically ill people in Somerset are cared for.

Instead, critical care services will be provided in a modern, high quality and adaptable building that’s able to meet the future needs of patients as medicine and healthcare make further advances.

The original hospital was built during the Second World War as a temporary casualty evacuation hospital for the D-Day landings, but has become increasingly difficult to maintain.

If the plans are approved it is expected works will start in September 2020 and the first patients will be cared for in the new surgical centre by early 2024.

Dr Stuart Walker, chief medical officer at Musgrove Park Hospital, said: "We are all excited to be embarking on this new phase. We know how important it is to our local population, and staff, that they have the best possible hospital facilities in which to provide excellent care.

"It will mean major improvement in the design, layout and physical environment that we care for our patients, which will improve safety and enable our staff to work more effectively.

"This can only further improve the quality of care that our staff can give and consequently enhance the overall patient experience.

"The new theatres and critical care facilities will provide such an upgrade to Musgrove Park Hospital for the benefit of our community."