THE Bishop of Bath and Wells toured Taunton's Musgrove Park Hospital this week.

Bishop Michael spoke to patients and colleagues in the hospital’s intensive care unit and emergency department, to its chaplaincy team and representatives of the staff networks.

He was also given an overview of plans for the much-needed new Somerset maternity and paediatric unit to replace the current facility dating from the Second World War.

Bishop Michael said: “It was a privilege to visit Musgrove Park Hospital and to see our NHS in action.

"Among the staff who serve us at Musgrove, it was inspiring to see such professionalism and expertise combined with such warmth and humanity.

“A place like Musgrove Park is an astonishing collection of many different moving parts – from those on reception to those renewing the buildings, those offering critical care to those serving up meals and nourishment – nurses, doctors, porters, cleaners, trustees, maintenance staff and of course many more.

“I could only be struck at the way everyone was working as a team to enable so much to happen. People are going the extra mile at Musgrove.”

Colin Drummond, chairman of Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, said: "It was a wonderful boost for patients and colleagues alike in our very busy hospital."