PLANS are in place to significantly expand the training capacity for medical students at Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton.

The hospital's trust board will hear a proposal for the development next month and extensive refurbishment work could start in December.

It would allow the academy to host training for medical undergraduates from the University of Bristol and, from 2021, the University of Plymouth’s Peninsula Medical School would also have a base there.

The academy building would be expanded to provide more space for clinical skills training, including simulation, and the lecture theatre would be modernised.

The work would be completed by August 2021 with various rooms and facilities temporarily relocated elsewhere during building work to minimise disruption to training services.

The library would also get a revamp with a second floor installed, to help ensure it can cater for the needs of the many additional colleagues and students.

Dr Stephen Haydock, associate dean and honorary associate professor at the Peninsula Medical School, said: “We have a great opportunity to expand our training facilities, which will hopefully attract many more students from universities in the south west to undertake their placements in Somerset.

“We have a fantastic group of medical and nursing students who are very much part of our wider team and play an important role in providing outstanding care to our patients.”