The Practice Plus Group Hospital in Shepton Mallet, one of Somerset’s smaller healthcare facilities, is set to expand with a new modular extension aimed at improving patient care and increasing surgical operations.
Located on Bucklers Way near the town’s NHS community hospital, the Practice Plus Group Hospital serves both NHS and private patients, offering a variety of treatments including hip and knee replacements.
Construction of the modular extension has begun and is scheduled to open later this year in time for the hospital’s 20th anniversary. The new building will feature five consulting rooms and two fully equipped procedure rooms, designed to create a more patient-friendly environment for minor treatments and outpatient services.
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By freeing up operating theatres, the hospital expects to increase the volume of orthopaedic surgeries, such as hip and knee replacements, by 20% by Christmas.
Hospital Director Catherine Farr emphasized the significance of the development: “Our new patient treatment centre is a major advancement for Shepton Mallet Hospital. It enhances patient comfort, boosts outpatient capacity by 20%, and allows us to provide more treatments on site before year-end. This is a strategic investment in our patients, our community, and the future of healthcare in this region. It also marks phase one in a broader plan to modernize and expand the hospital for the next two decades.”
The extension will include a dedicated treatment room for age-related macular degeneration. The second procedure room will support services in urology, ENT, gynaecology, orthopaedics, and varicose vein treatments.
In addition, the hospital will offer minor keyhole surgeries to private and insured patients under consultant orthopaedic surgeon Alison Edwards. Procedures will address conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger finger.
Rachel Harwood, the radiology manager and project lead, shared: “We recognized the need for additional space to deliver the high-quality care patients expect. Many procedures don’t require a full operating theatre, and this new facility allows more timely and comfortable treatments. It also enables expansion of critical services like gynaecology and minor orthopaedics, while encouraging innovative approaches such as new physiotherapy techniques. Above all, it’s about delivering the right care in the right place at the right time.”
The project is being completed by Premier Modular, a specialist in efficient modular healthcare buildings, with an expected completion date of late November.