BRIDGWATER'S £33 million state-of-the-art community hospital in Bower Lane officially opened its doors back in April 2014. 

The bigger and better facility replaced the town's former hospital in Salmon Parade and was expected to deal with 62,000 patients per year. 

The Mercury reported that it had 30 inpatient beds, a maternity unit, a minor injuries unit, therapy and rehabilitation services and an endoscopy unit for bowel screening.

Matron Sue Taylor said the building was a huge improvement on the former hospital.

She said: “It just doesn’t compare. It’s amazing. This is my 20th year working for the hospital, so I’ve seen some changes over the years.

“This project has been brilliant. We have everything on one site and we’re all part of a big team helping to deliver the best health care to patients.

“The environment is friendly and relaxing, and has been specially designed with dementia patients in mind.

“The building also offers better privacy with individual rooms and an overall modern health care experience.”

Bridgwater Mercury: The front page of the Mercury on Tuesday, May 6, 2014.The front page of the Mercury on Tuesday, May 6, 2014. (Image: Archive)

Mike Paynter, a consultant nurse with Bridgwater Hospital for over two years, said: “We saw 34,000 patients in the last year at the old hospital.

“This place is much bigger and better equipped with a larger space and easily accessible from the M5, so I anticipate that we’ll see even more patients here.”

The League of Friends of Bridgwater Community Hospital raised £66,000 towards new equipment for the hospital, including a television for each bed. 

Volunteers from the League also agreed to upgrade certain NHS equipment and supply ultra-low beds, dynamic mattresses and overnight visitor beds.

Mary Porter, publicity officer with the League, said: “It’s a totally different world over in the new hospital.

“The old building had had its day and it was time for the move.

“Staff were attached to the nostalgia of the old building, so it has been hard, but the new facility is light and airy, and a very nice environment.”

Bridgwater Mercury: The old Bridgwater Hospital that was moved to a new location in Bower Lane in 2014.The old Bridgwater Hospital that was moved to a new location in Bower Lane in 2014. (Image: NQ Staff)

At the time, we reported that the future of the former hospital was unknown. 

Now, a handout from the Government's levelling up fund will help bring the Grade II listed building back to life as a training centre of excellence for health and social care.

The £19.7 million project aims to: 

  • Grow and upskill the local labour market, making Somerset an attractive place to work in the health and social care sector
  • Address local health and care inequalities through a more professionally trained sector, helping create more capacity in primary care with more people supported at home
  • Drive innovation in health and social care service delivery and training by encouraging tech-business co-location at the site.