Minehead’s MP, Rachel Gilmour, has launched a petition to oppose the removal of crucial CT and MRI scanners from Minehead Community Hospital. These scanners, installed in August 2025 as a temporary solution during the construction of a new diagnostic centre in Bridgwater, were recently taken away by the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. This decision forces patients to travel significant distances to Musgrove Park Hospital or the Bridgwater diagnostic centre, causing added stress and expense.
The scanners, provided by AGITO Medical, recorded high usage, with 723 CT scans and 605 MRI scans done between August 2025 and March 2026—a monthly average of 166 scans. However, a Freedom of Information request revealed no impact assessments were conducted before the scanners were removed. Many elderly residents, often lacking personal transport, now face long and difficult journeys for scans previously available close to home.
Rachel Gilmour has voiced her strong opposition, emphasizing the impact on access to healthcare and warning that this is a false economy for the NHS. She highlighted that poor public transport links in west Somerset exacerbate travel difficulties, and urged the Trust to provide a proper explanation. Campaigning continuously for better health services, she also plans to push for improved transportation options between Minehead and Taunton to ease access for her constituents.
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Local Conservative councillors Mandy Chilcott and Andy Hadley echoed concerns, pointing to poor connectivity and the disproportionate impact on elderly residents. Both expressed disappointment and questioned the NHS’s decision, stressing the importance of local services to reduce health inequalities in rural areas.
From the NHS perspective, Adam Turner, head of imaging at the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, cited low patient demand as the reason for the scanners’ removal. He noted that expanded facilities in Taunton, Yeovil, and soon Bridgwater, are part of a broader strategy to increase diagnostic capacity in the region. The Trust has invested in upgrading other diagnostic services at Minehead, such as the x-ray room, to continue supporting the community.
Rachel Gilmour urges residents to sign her petition to demonstrate the importance of local scanners and show that access, not demand, is the core issue. The petition will be presented to the Department for Health and Social Care and key NHS bodies as a call to reconsider the decision and protect vital health services in Minehead.