Wells City Council has voiced serious concerns over the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust’s proposed closure or repurposing of 20 beds at West Mendip Hospital in Glastonbury, along with other changes at community hospitals in Shepton Mallet. These adjustments are part of a wider strategy affecting community healthcare facilities across Somerset.
Despite the significant impact of these changes, no public consultation has been held, and the Trust has yet to publish the business case. This lack of transparency has alarmed the local community, particularly as the plan’s implementation is scheduled just two days before the Somerset Council Adults and Health Scrutiny Committee meeting on 21 August 2025, a body responsible for reviewing such decisions.
At the Full City Council meeting on 24 July, members, supported by Cllr Claire Sully, Vice Chair of the Adults and Health Scrutiny Committee, unanimously agreed that the Mayor of Wells would represent city residents at the upcoming scrutiny committee meeting to voice their concerns. Additionally, the Town Clerk will formally write to Somerset NHS Foundation Trust seeking detailed information on the proposed changes, timelines, impacts, and mitigation strategies.
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West Mendip Community Hospital, opened in April 2005 as a modern NHS facility, was designed to consolidate services from Butleigh Hospital and Wells & District Hospital, serving central Somerset with 36 inpatient beds, outpatient rehabilitation, a Minor Injuries Unit, and community care services. The proposed reduction by more than half the inpatient beds threatens to undermine this vision, potentially limiting access to vital healthcare for elderly and vulnerable patients in the area.
Mayor of Wells, Cllr Louis Agabani, urged residents to review the proposed changes and provide feedback directly to Somerset NHS Foundation Trust at [email protected] and to the Somerset Council Adults and Health Scrutiny Committee before the 21 August deadline. Anyone wishing to speak at the scrutiny meeting can register by contacting [email protected].