Home / Health / MP Fights NHS Scanner Removal in Minehead
MP Fights NHS Scanner Removal in Minehead
15 Apr
Summary
- Minehead Community Hospital's CT/MRI scanners were removed in late March.
- 723 CT and 605 MRI scans were completed at the Minehead site.
- Patients now must travel to Taunton or Bridgwater for scans.
CT and MRI scanners temporarily installed at Minehead Community Hospital were removed in late March, impacting local healthcare access. These scanners, operational from August 2025, completed 723 CT and 605 MRI scans before their withdrawal. Patients now face longer journeys to Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton or a diagnostic centre in Bridgwater for these essential services.
MP Rachel Gilmour has initiated a petition against the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust's decision. She argues that the removal will lead to worse health outcomes and higher travel expenses for her constituents, particularly the elderly and those without private transport. The trust stated scanner usage was low, but critics suggest this may be due to access issues rather than demand.
The trust is investing in other diagnostic services at Minehead, including upgrading the x-ray room. However, local representatives and the MP stress the importance of local access, highlighting poor public transport links in West Somerset. They are campaigning for improved transport services to mitigate the impact of the scanner removal.
