A MULTI-MILLION pound project to improve Chard’s hospital could begin next year after the Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust approved the scheme’s funding.

No work will start until a separate review into community hospitals by the Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group has been completed, however.

The project is expected to cost £4.8million and will be completed in three phases, starting with improving the in-patient accommodation, which is situated on the first floor.

The Crewkerne Road hospital currently houses a minor injury unit, school nurses and health visitors, hospital-based out-patients services, inpatient services and mental health services.

A trust spokesman said: “The Somerset Partnership remains committed to the re-development of the Chard Community Hospital site.

“At its meeting last month, the trust board approved the capital programme for the next three years which will support the re-development of Chard Community Hospital in three phases.

“The trust is mindful, though, that the SCCG is still undertaking its review of community services, and only once that work’s finished will we have a better understanding of the services the SCCG will need at the site in future, so for that reason it’s proposed to start the work in 2016.

“We believe the Chard site offers tremendous potential for re-development and would be a great site to provide a range of integrated services.

“The first phase of re-development will involve improving in-patient accommodation by refurbishing the existing Bracken House building to improve facilities and offer greater privacy.

“The trust has, however, indicated that capital funds might be available to enable an earlier start date once the SCCG has set out its expectations for the hospital in light of its review.”