Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton

This is a shared care hospital for the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.

Musgrove Park Hospital
The Old Medical Building
Taunton
Somerset
TA1 5DA

Telephone: 01823 333444
Website: www.somerset-health.org.uk
Map: to view the hospital on a map click here (this takes you to the Multimap site). top of page

A restaurant, coffee shop, and snack bar are available. There is a small flower shop, two small general shops and a hairdresser near the children’s wards. A NatWest bank is also available, with restricted hours (Tuesday & Friday 12pm – 2pm). 

The hospital is 25 minutes walk from the town centre with all major shops. The nearest cashpoint is at Tesco’s supermarket which is a 15 minute walk from the hospital.

There is a booklet on walks between 15 minutes and 1 hour around the hospital, please ask if you are interested.

Train: Taunton station is located less than two miles away in the centre of Taunton, which is well served by local buses.

Bus: There is a regular shuttle bus service from the town to Musgrove Park, that stops close to the Accident and Emergency Department, in front of the Queen's Building and the Old Building Entrance. This service is run by First Southern National.  For further information visit www.firstgroup.com or call  01823 272033.

Parking on Site: A form can be obtained from the ward staff if a child has been on the ward longer than a week.  This form needs to be taken to the central office in the Duchess Building and parents receive parking for one week at a cost of £5 per week.  This does need to be renewed weekly.

Taxi: Taxis are a good method of transport and many are now equipped to take wheel chairs. They can be ordered at the nurse’s station on the children’s wards. 

General: Oak Ward

Direct Tel: 01823 342016

No. of Beds: There are two cubicles on the children’s ward dedicated to oncology patients. The cubicles have a bath and shower. Two cubicles have a door leading on to a small patio area. 

Age Range: 0-16/17/18. The age is fairly flexible depending on diagnosis, age and preference. 

Play: Play-leaders/specialists are on the wards from 8am-4pm and are available to sick children and their siblings. Children have access to indoor and outdoor playrooms, located on the ward. There is an adolescent room with pool table and computer. A play area exists for outpatients as well. All the rooms are bright and conducive to a friendly atmosphere.

Learning: There is a well-equipped schoolroom. The sessions run from 9am-12pm and follow school terms as set by Somerset County Council. Education staff will make arrangements for home tuition for children within the Somerset area and will also make contact with the child’s home school. They will accept children of school age up to 16/18 years old and pupils can sit their GCSEs here. Tuition will also be given on the wards.

Other Facilities: There is a ward kitchen where children can make toast and a microwave in the parents’ room.
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Meal Times: Meals are at set times and are provided on a trolley. There is no ability to provide cooked meals outside of the designated times, however parents are able to bring food from the hospital canteen to the child’s cubicle. There is a ward kitchen in addition to this.

Rounds: There are two oncology doctors who carry out rounds every morning.

Visiting: Completely open visiting is in place. 

There are three parent rooms available with separate WC and showers. It is expected that families may need to share these rooms with other parents (same sex). A kitchen with coffee/tea making facilities, sitting room and outside area is next to the parent accommodation. Both oncology cubicles have en-suite showers and a single bed for parents is incorporated.

Parent meetings/outings and children’s activities are arranged infrequently by the CLIC Sargent care professional or play specialists.

2 Nurses
1 Social Worker
1 Doctor top of page