BAM is to build another project in Somerset to add to its work on the Bridgwater schools.

Work on the £34 million centre will now start on March 5th 2012 and the first patients will be treated towards the end of Autumn 2013.

Chairman, Ros Wyke said: "This is excellent news for the people of Taunton and Somerset and confirms Musgrove Park's position as a major centre for complex surgical work. I am delighted that we have appointed BAM and we look forward to working with them."

Steve Tapson from BAM Western said: "Having been involved with this prestigious project for some considerable time, we are delighted that work is now proceeding, and look forward very much to continuing the excellent relationship we have established with the hospital team. This important project supports our commitment to the South West and reinforces our established portfolio in the area of which we are extremely proud. This is also good news for our project staff and many of our Supply Chain who are local to the Taunton area."


The new three-storey centre will have 112 single rooms with en-suite facilities. It will replace wards 1 to 5 in the Old Building and will allow us to care for our patients in the most modern accommodation in the NHS. It will be one of the few NHS developments in the country with all single rooms.

Having single rooms rather than bays will eliminate mixed sex accommodation, help prevent infection and ensure the privacy of patients. There is strong evidence that patients sleep better in single rooms as they are not disrupted by noise at night, which helps patients recover faster. This is good for the patients and for the hospital in making the best use of its beds.

Chief Executive, Jo Cubbon said: "The existing facilities in the Old Building have served us well over the last 70 years but we now look forward to working with BAM to develop the most modern and attractive ward facilities, fit for the 21st Century. This will strengthen our ability as a hospital to manage emergency and complex surgical cases in line with our ambitions to provide excellent services to the people we serve."

(CD/GK)