New developments at Yeovil District Hospital

We’ve recently completed the refurbishment of one of our theatres at Yeovil District Hospital, and have started to build a new, fifth theatre. The next step of this development is the addition of a new 20-bed ward, which will be located on the first floor at the hospital’s main entrance (opposite the multi-storey car park), above the outpatients department and connecting to the first floor emergency assessment unit.

The state-of-the-art ward will be built off-site by a specialist healthcare facility manufacturer, ModuleCo, and brought to site in large modules. Construction work will begin at the hospital later this year, with the ward due to open to patients in early 2024.

Ahead of us submitting a full planning application, we’re running a public consultation, and we’d welcome your comments on the proposals. A public forum event will also take place later in the year, where you’ll be able to ask us further questions about the project.

This will be a dedicated orthopaedic ward with rehabilitation facilities that will allow us to provide more timely care for patients within our local communities and wider Somerset.

The additional number of beds will help to protect against the cancellation of surgery because of bed availability. We estimate that the investment will reduce the waiting list for planned orthopaedic surgery in Somerset from around 3,400 in March 2024 to about 1,500 by March 2026.

ModuleCo’s approach to building the new ward off-site has allowed us to not only invest in the highest quality facility available, but also to increase our bed capacity sooner. It will be built in a safer and more sustainable way, with minimal disruption to our busy hospital site and local community.

We will update this page with the latest news and information over the next year. You’ll also be able to find more information about the planning application on the Somerset Council website, once the planning application has been submitted. If you have any questions about the upcoming development, or you want to provide some feedback, please email myvoice@somersetft.nhs.uk. The public consultation is running from 18 August 2023 until midnight on 1 September 2023.

If you have any questions about the upcoming development or want to provide some feedback on our services, you can email us at myvoice@somersetft.nhs.uk.