Construction has officially started on Bridgwater’s new £17.8 million diagnostic centre, which is scheduled to open by summer 2026. This state-of-the-art facility will be located behind Bridgwater Community Hospital, off Bower Lane, and aims to significantly improve healthcare services in Somerset.
Currently, Somerset has only one diagnostic centre near the M5 in Taunton, with a second expected to open near Yeovil Hospital soon. The new Bridgwater centre, approved by NHS England and Somerset Council, will expand local access to advanced diagnostic services, reducing the need for patients to travel to acute hospitals.
Fully funded by the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), the centre aligns with the NHS Ten-Year Plan’s goal of shifting appointments and treatments closer to the community. Adam Turner, head of imaging at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, emphasized that the facility will fill a crucial gap: Bridgwater currently lacks CT and MRI scanners, apart from modular units in the community hospital car park.
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The centre will feature a CT scanner, two MRI scanners, two electrocardiography rooms, two ultrasound rooms, and four outpatient rooms. This comprehensive setup will facilitate routine and specialist cardiac and cancer screenings, along with local clinics, creating a convenient, one-stop healthcare hub.
Turner highlighted that the new centre will address existing waiting lists for specialized tests that currently require travel to Taunton or Yeovil. By bringing these services closer to home, the centre will ease pressure on Musgrove Park Hospital, Somerset’s nearest acute hospital, which is undergoing delayed major upgrades.
While noting that the diagnostic centre is funded separately from hospital improvements, Turner explained that its establishment allows acute hospital staff to focus more efficiently on critical care. “If I were a patient, I’d prefer not to visit an acute hospital unless necessary. These bespoke community centres offer better facilities,” he said.
The eastern edge of Bridgwater is also experiencing substantial development, including new housing projects and the nearby £4 billion Gravity enterprise zone gigafactory. Despite potential construction disruptions, Mark Graves, operations director of Ergea UK, assured that careful planning is minimizing traffic impact. The building will utilize modular construction techniques, enabling rapid assembly and a durable lifespan.
Stefan Dransfield, managing director of Actiform Ltd., expressed pride in contributing to this vital healthcare infrastructure, stating that the project brings “high-quality, accessible, state-of-the-art diagnostic facilities closer to home” for Somerset residents.