Somerset health authorities have yet to decide whether the closed Oscar Mayer factory in Chard will be converted into a new NHS health hub. The factory, situated on A358 Furnham Road, closed in August 2021, resulting in 860 job losses due to the high costs of modernizing the site.
The NHS, under its 10-year plan, is promoting the creation of health hubs in or near town centers to consolidate healthcare services and reduce pressure on hospitals. The NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board, responsible for managing the county’s health resource allocation, is currently reviewing the future of primary care in Chard. This includes services at two GP surgeries run by Ariel Healthcare and the urgent treatment center off A30 Crewkerne Road.
In September 2024, NHS Somerset released an infrastructure strategy that identified 28 locations across the county as low-quality and in need of upgrading or replacement. Notably, two Chard facilities—the Chard Community Hospital, which includes the urgent treatment center, and the Essex House Medical Centre, closed since March 2025—were listed among these sites.
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Despite these findings, no conclusive plans have been made about either building’s fate or whether the former Oscar Mayer site will be repurposed for healthcare. NHS Somerset emphasized that ongoing collaboration with local partners aims to explore a variety of estate options aligned with the NHS’s national strategy, which favors using existing public estates over constructing new buildings.
A spokesperson affirmed, “No decisions have been made on a neighborhood health center in Chard. Local primary care premises are under continuous review through established NHS procedures, considering population needs, service sustainability, financial value, and available funding.”
Chard is set for significant population growth, with multiple housing projects either approved or nearing approval. These developments, including hundreds of homes along A30 Crewkerne Road, Tatworth Road, Thorndun Park Drive, and other key areas, will increase local demand for health services.
NHS Somerset expressed a strong commitment to engaging with the community to identify healthcare priorities and the most effective ways to deliver services. This collaboration aims to optimize the use of community hospitals and resources to provide enhanced local care, potentially including improved access to chemotherapy, x-ray services, and outpatient clinics.
In summary, while there is no final blueprint for transforming the former factory site or other health facilities in Chard, ongoing evaluations focus on delivering sustainable healthcare solutions to meet the town’s growing needs.