Three NHS staff from Yeovil spinal clinic stand in a row, with a skeleton model to their left, in what appears to be a ward at a hospital — From left: A model skeleton, Mr Alex Goubran - consultant spinal surgeon, Elena Uren - staff nurse in orthopaedics, and Dr Isam Bella - trauma and orthopaedics doctor

Health & Wellbeing News Somerset Magazine

Spinal clinic at Yeovil hospital saw more than 300 patients in first year – with more planned

Paul JonesJuly 29, 20260 Comment0

A SPINAL care service at Yeovil District Hospital – the first at the site for a generation – has welcomed more than 300 patients in its first year.

The spinal outpatient clinic was launched in May last year, the first time in a generation that patients have been able to access spinal care at Yeovil, run by the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust.

Consultant surgeon, Mr Alex Goubran, heads up the clinic, which runs each Wednesday in the hospital’s general outpatients department.

Each week, Mr Goubran combines a range of clinical duties, from attending the hospital’s regular trauma and orthopaedic meeting, to conducting ward rounds for patients with spinal conditions, and running the outpatient clinic.

So far, Mr Goubran and the team have run almost 40 clinics, and seen more patients on ward rounds, as well as providing outpatient care.

And he said being able to run a spinal service across both acute hospitals in Somerset is a real game changer.

“Our spinal service is proving really popular with our patients from Yeovil and the surrounding area,” he said.

“Many people told us they were surprised and relieved at being able to access this care much closer to home.

“We always try to ensure that patients referred from the Yeovil area can have the majority of their appointments at their local hospital where possible, which has made a real difference to their experience.

“We’re covering more ground, improving how we review outpatients, while making care more accessible for local people.”

Mr Goubran said the successful clinic may only be the start, with ambitions to offer spinal surgery at Yeovil hospital in the future.

“While all spinal operations in Somerset currently take place at Musgrove Park Hospital, we’d ideally love to expand the service at Yeovil in the future – potentially in an operating suite or theatre, as well as facilities for spinal injections,” he went on.

“We want to thank colleagues at Yeovil Hospital for being so welcoming to us, especially fellow consultant Mr Matt Hall, department manager Helen Murray and senior manager Cara O’Keefe, all of whom have been very supportive.”