MP Amos calls for investment as rain causes leaks at Musgrove Hospital

The trust said it had become “increasingly difficult to preserve the older parts of the property”, which were used as an American hospital during the Second World War.

Gideon Amos, MP for Taunton and Wellington, is calling for urgent investment in the upcoming budget.

A spokesman for Somerset NHS Foundation Trust said: “Part of our estate at Musgrove Park Hospital features buildings that were used as an American hospital during the Second World War. Some of these house our maternity ward, child care and intensive care unit and general operating rooms.

“As with other hospitals across the NHS, these older buildings have become increasingly difficult to maintain and, during periods of extremely heavy rain, we have occasionally experienced water leaks in our corridors.

“We are managing this on an ongoing basis to ensure we continue to provide care in a safe and comfortable environment.

“We are in the process of replacing our aging intensive care unit, general operating rooms and endoscopy department with our new surgery center, which is scheduled to open towards the end of 2025.

“In addition, we are also awaiting the outcome of the government review of the New Hospitals Program at Musgrove Park Hospital.

“We continue to work closely with the New Hospitals Program team on their program to confirm plans, funding arrangements and timelines.”

Ahead of the autumn budget, Mr Amos has called for urgent investment in the region's hospitals to address the backlog of repairs and ensure patients are treated in a safe environment.

He is calling on the Chancellor to take advantage of any changes to lending rules to use this money to invest in Somerset's hospitals.

Mr Amos said: “People going to hospital shouldn't have to worry about buildings collapsing around them or roofs leaking over their heads.”

“This backlog of essential repairs, which were necessary but not carried out by the previous Conservative government, is a scandalous legacy of underfunding and mismanagement that the new parliament and government must now address.”

“The NHS was the brainchild of Liberal MP William Beveridge and when it was introduced by a Labor government only Conservative MPs tried to stop it.

“This shocking new information about the damage and repairs left behind by their last government shows that even today they cannot be trusted with the NHS.”

“I urge both the Health Secretary and the Chancellor to put the money into repairs here in Taunton and Wellington that are so desperately needed.”