Haematology patients are having to complete a round trip of around 60 miles to attend appointments after a department was moved from Yeovil to Taunton.

The Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has confirmed that all new and follow-up outpatient appointments in the haematology department were transferred from Yeovil’s District Hospital to Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton in August, for a six-month period.

Taunton’s Musgrove Park Hospital. Google Street View. Somerset NHS Foundation Trust confirmed the temporary closure of Yeovil’s haematology department means that all outpatients now have to travel to Taunton’s Musgrove Park Hospital

The Trust has acknowledged the change could ‘inconvenience patients’ and says it has written to all affecting people to highlight support available, but that it was due to ‘significant staffing challenges’.
But one patient, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, branded the move ‘bordering on cruel’ and said they face a long journey from the Bruton area to Taunton for appointments – and others in the Vale would face similar.
“I am a patient at the haematology department at Yeovil Hospital, but all face-to-face appointments are now to be at