Minehead’s local hospital has recently seen the removal of its portable CT and MRI scanners, a decision that has sparked concern and a campaign to restore these vital diagnostic services closer to home. These scanners, installed in August 2025 on Luttrell Way as a temporary measure, were intended to bridge the gap until a new community diagnostic centre opens on Bower Lane in Bridgwater.
The Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, responsible for acute and community hospital services across the county, took away the scanners in late March 2026. This move forces patients to travel significant distances to Musgrove Park Hospital or the diagnostic centre near the M5 in Taunton, creating burdensome travel for many, especially the elderly and those without transport.
Rachel Gilmour, MP for Tiverton and Minehead, has launched a petition demanding the reinstatement of the scanners. She argues that their removal will worsen health outcomes and increase travel costs for residents in her constituency.
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Usage data obtained through a Freedom of Information request revealed that between August 2025 and March 2026, Minehead’s scanners facilitated 723 CT scans and 605 MRI scans, averaging 166 scans monthly. Despite this activity, the NHS Trust reported low demand and cited space constraints as reasons for the removal. Notably, there was no formal impact assessment conducted beforehand, and patient waiting times before and after installation remain undisclosed.
Local Conservative campaigner James Wright highlighted the issue of accessibility: “Many elderly residents without cars must now undertake lengthy journeys for scans that were previously available minutes from home. The NHS failed to assess the impact of this change or consider travel challenges.”
MP Rachel Gilmour has actively raised concerns with the Somerset NHS Trust chair and Health Minister Stephen Kinnock, stressing the importance of local access to diagnostic services. She emphasizes that easier access encourages timely medical intervention, which can prevent more serious health problems and higher costs in the future.
Gilmour acknowledges the Trust’s point about low scanner demand but notes that poor public transport links in West Somerset mean many people cannot easily get to Minehead, let alone farther facilities in Taunton or Bridgwater. She is pushing for improved transport services, including direct buses to Musgrove Park Hospital, as a mitigation step if the scanners cannot be reinstated.
Local councillors share the disappointment. Councillor Mandy Chilcott expressed frustration: “Traveling to Bridgwater or Taunton is near impossible for those unwell or lacking transport. The removal contradicts government aims to bring NHS services closer to communities and reduce health inequalities.” Councillor Andy Hadley added concerns about possibly deliberate underbooking at Minehead to keep demand low elsewhere and stressed the need to maximize the use of the modern hospital facilities available locally.
In response, Adam Turner, head of imaging at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, explained that the scanners were temporary placements due to space limitations and low usage. He confirmed ongoing investments in other diagnostic services at Minehead, such as an upgraded X-ray room, to continue supporting the community.
The campaign continues with MP Gilmour urging constituents to sign her petition to make their voices heard by the Department for Health and Social Care, the hospital trust, and the Somerset Integrated Care Board. She insists the issue is not demand but access and warns that removing these scanners would be a step backward for healthcare in West Somerset.