NUFFIELD Health Taunton Hospital has celebrated its 50th anniversary by planting a tree with the help of the newly elected Mayor.

Vanessa Garside, Mayor of Taunton, visited the Hospital and marked the milestone by planting a tree as part of a day of celebrations for the team.

The hospital first opened its doors in 1974 as a small private unit to serve the local community and has grown over the last half-century continuing to deliver a wide range of services including hip replacement, eye surgery, and weight loss surgery.

Mandy Bridge, director of operations of Nuffield Health Taunton Hospital, said: “50 years is a significant milestone, and it is with thanks to our fantastic hospital team for making Nuffield Health Taunton Hospital an important part of the local healthcare community.

“Over the past decade, we have seen Nuffield Health strengthen its support to the local community, including offering the free-to-access Joint Pain Programme and wellbeing services in schools.

“As the UK’s largest healthcare charity, we are investing income back into developing our health and wellbeing services to make local people healthier and fulfil our purpose of building a healthier nation. This includes supporting Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic,” adds Mandy.

So far this year, the hospital team has carried out over 2,000 procedures for patients including over 200 hip and knee replacement surgeries.

Heidi Finney, director of clinical services, said: “I’m very proud to lead a strong team of professional clinicians and consultants.

“We aim to provide the highest possible patient-centred care to the population of Somerset, delivered in a caring, safe, and well-led environment, with the highest standards of infection control.”

In April, Nuffield Health Taunton Hospital received a Good rating from the CQC, which included Outstanding for being well-led.

Mandy Bridge added: “As we look forward to the future, we will continue to provide high-quality healthcare and respond to developing unmet health and wellbeing needs in our local community and widen access to our connected healthcare services, medical experts, and resources to give more people the tools to lead a healthy lifestyle.”