Wells Priory has been highlighted as a key site in the NHS Somerset integrated care board's (ICB) infrastructure strategy, with plans to explore how the building could be utilised for wider public sector services.

While the building is already classified as "fit for purpose" for healthcare delivery, the ICB is investigating how it, along with other core sites, can be used to bring a broader range of services to local communities.

As part of this review, 28 individual buildings (or elements of wider complexes) have been singled out as being "poor quality", with NHS guidance stating these sites "should be phased out when alternative estate is available".

The ICB's infrastructure strategy was published in full before its most recent board meeting, which took place in Yeovil on September 26.

It encompasses a huge range of property, including acute hospitals (i.e. Musgrove Park Hospital and Yeovil Hospital), community hospitals, mental health facilities, doctors' surgeries and dental practices.

A spokesman said: "The public health and care estate in Somerset is large and varies considerably in its condition and age.

"Some of our buildings are modern and flexible, fit for modern healthcare delivery. Others are more than 150 years old and no longer easy to keep safe.

"Our infrastructure strategy lays out the significant challenges faced in doing this, particularly given funding restrictions and the increasing difficulties of managing greater demand in facilities which are not fit for purpose."

Somerset faces a number of key challenges which will impact its health infrastructure in the coming years – such as demographic change (i.e. having a relatively elderly population), housing growth, lack of key worker accommodation, a maintenance backlog and a shortage of funding for major capital projects (such as new hospitals or doctors' surgeries).

To determine where the need for improvement is greatest and most urgent, the infrastructure strategy puts all the county's healthcare assets into one of three categories:

• 'Core' – meaning the building is good quality and fit for purpose
• 'Flex' – meaning the building is of acceptable quality but does not allow the NHS to "fully realise its ambitions"
• 'Tail' – meaning the building is poor quality and not fit for purpose

Buildings of different categories can often be found on the same site, often in close proximity.

For instance, Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton includes the Jubilee building, which opened in 2013 and is categorised as 'core'; however, the adjacent Queen's and Princess buildings are classed as 'flex' since they have "reached the end of their intended lifespan".

The same hospital's maternity services and some of its operating theatres are classed as 'tail', since they are more than 70 years old and are "expensive to maintain and keep safe".

While the theatres will soon be demolished once their replacements have been constructed, funding for a new maternity unit has not yet been secured.

The following properties all fall into the 'tail' category, and are therefore viewed as not fit for purpose:

• Talking therapies unit, Angel Place Shopping Centre, Bridgwater
• The South West Child Health Information Service, The Exchange, Bridgwater
• Bruton Surgery, Patwell Lane, Bruton
• Burnham-on-Sea Memorial Hospital (including Peter Holmes annexe), B3140 Love Lane, Burnham-on-Sea
• Chard Community Hospital, A30 Crewkerne Road, Chard
• Essex House Medical Centre, A30 Fore Street, Chard
• Crewkerne Hospital, Middle Path, Crewkerne
• 22-23a Market Place, Frome
• North Petherton Surgery, Mill Street, North Petherton
• Shepton Mallet Community Hospital (including admin block and maternity unit), Bucklers Way, Shepton Mallet
• Grove House Surgery, Grove Court, Shepton Mallet
• Sharpham building, Shape Mendip campus, A371 Cannard's Grave Road, Shepton Mallet
• Parkgate House, A38 East Reach, Taunton
• Tower Vaccination Centre, Tower Street, Taunton
• Musgrove Park Hospital maternity unit, Parkfield Drive, Taunton
• C Block, County Hall, The Crescent, Taunton
• Templecombe Surgery, Station Road, Templecombe
• Wedmore Surgery, St. Medard Road, Wedmore
• Wellington Dental Access Centre, Mantle Street, Wellington
• Wellington Community Hospital, Burford, Wellington
• Stratfield Day Centre, Burford, Wellington
• Luson Surgery, 41 Fore Street, Wellington
• Units 8, 10a & 12, Bartec, Brympton Way, Yeovil
• Yeovil Dental Access Centre, Preston Road, Yeovil
• Oaklands Surgery, Birchfield Road, Yeovil
• Penn Hill Surgery, St. Nicholas Close, Yeovil
• Offices within Brympton House, Brympton Way, Yeovil
• Petters House, Petters Way, Yeovil

Several of the GP surgeries listed – including Bruton, Essex House, North Petherton, Templecombe, Luson Street and Penn Hill – were identified as needing to be expanded or relocated by health bosses as far back as September 2020.

Numerous properties within the 'tail' category have already either been identified for upgrading or replacement, either by the NHS or Somerset Council.

Bruton Surgery is expected to be replaced with a new medical centre off Wyvern Close if plans for 125 homes either side of Brewham Road are approved by the council – though a decision was pushed back in late-July due to road safety concerns.

Essex House Medical Centre in Chard is currently closed for extensive building work, with all staff and facilities temporarily relocating to the former Springmead Surgery on Summerlands Road, which closed in February 2023.

North Petherton Surgery could be replaced with a new medical centre as part of a planned development on the A38 Taunton Road, which will also deliver dozens of new homes and local sports pitches.

Taunton and Wellington MP Gideon Amos has pledged to fight for a new maternity unit at Musgrove Park Hospital, and is lobbying the government regarding funding for other improvements under the new hospital programme (which is currently under review).

The Tower Vaccination Centre is expected to relocate over the next 12 months as Somerset Council brings forward its new 'Taunton transport hub' on the former bus station site, which will be delivered using funding from the Department for Transport (DfT).

The council is also expected to shortly complete the sale of both Petters House and C Block at County Hall, with an ambition to convert the latter building into flats for key workers at Musgrove and other local health hubs.

The ICB said a number of projects were already being implemented to address infrastructure issues – including changes to stroke services at Musgrove, upgrading Yeovil Hospital's air conditioning system and investing in improved dental services.

Looking ahead, health bosses said they would continue to work with the government and local partners to secure capital funding for new buildings, as well as working with other public services on sharing premises to reduce costs.

A spokesman said: "We have identified a number of 'core' estate buildings – including buildings from the former district councils, Wynford House in Yeovil, Mallard Court in Bridgwater, Wells Priory, Yeovil police station and the police site at Express Park in Bridgwater.

"These buildings have the potential for wider public sector usage beyond their current use, and we will continue to investigate how best to utilise our existing space.

"We know that bringing a wider range of services to buildings in local communities has the potential for positive results for those communities."