South Petherton Community Hospital holds open day

The new South Petherton Community Hospital in Somerset has held an open day.

The £18m building, on the site of the old hospital, includes a new rehabilitation unit, a mobility centre and a health and wellbeing centre

Guided tours were given on Saturday, ahead of the opening in June.

Dr Roger Bulley said: "Rather like a phoenix rising out of the ashes, the old hospital has been totally recycled under the current hospital."

'Very fortunate'

Project director Wendy Marshfield said the project was originally planned to cost £17.5m.

She said: "We were very fortunate to have some funding from the Celia Ratty Trust and the League of Friends which enabled us to build some further enhancements into the hospital which took the project to just over £18m."

Dr Bulley said the new hospital had new services including a stroke rehabilitation unit, GP community rehabilitation beds, and the Exeter mobility centre for wheelchair and artificial limbs will be moved there.

He said there would also be a new educational facility for patients and carers on the site.