Thursday 21st September

Thursday, 21 September 2023 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Somerset NHS Trust, which runs Yeovil Hospital, paid out more than £13.5M in medical negligence claims in the last twelve months. Yeovil-based charity, School in a Bag, is asking for help to send supplies to earthquake-hit Morocco. Work has started on the next phase of the Yeovil Refresh project causing more disruption in the town centre...and more.

According to new data, Somerset NHS Trust, which runs Yeovil Hospital, paid out more than £13.5M in medical negligence claims in the last twelve months. The Trust, which also runs Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton and a number of community hospitals, paid compensation on seventy-seven negligence claims between July last year and July this year. The total paid was £13,511,879. Under NHS rules, a claim for medical negligence can be made if a patient suffers unnecessary or avoidable harm following a medical procedure.

Yeovil-based charity, School in a Bag, which supports children in the world’s disaster zones, is asking for help to send supplies to earthquake-hit Morocco. If enough money is donated, the charity says it’ll send one thousand school bags to Morocco to support children who are missing their education because of the disaster.

Work has started on the next phase of the Yeovil Refresh project. The scheme will see pavements widened, on-street parking bays installed and raised beds for planting introduced in Lower Middle Street, Newton Road, Wyndham Street and South Western Terrace. Starting in November, work will be carried out to improve crossing points at Middle Street, Wyndham Street, Sherborne Road and Newton Road junctions. Businesses will remain open throughout with the affected areas coned off and traffic lights in place.

Somerset Council has launched a tree strategy with the aim of planting two hundred and forty hectares of new woodland every year across the county over the next ten years. The Council’s appointed tree expert, James Chapman, and community engagement officer, Craig Daters, to drive the plan forward. Across the UK, tree cover is estimated at thirteen per cent, while in Somerset it’s just eight per cent.

A mother and son have started a juice-making business to raise awareness of how people with autism can learn new skills. Joanne and Patrick have set up "Squeeze and Go" at Castle Cary market. Patrick, who is non-verbal, is an equal partner with his mother in the business.

More from News

Thursday 20th August

Castle Cary railway station’s makeover has been officially unveiled. A new 18 million pound diagnostic centre in Bridgwater has opened. A Crewkerne teenager has been named ‘coach of the year’ for his work with Bristol City.... and more.
Wednesday 19th August

The fire service in Somerset has issued a plea for the public to take every precaution to prevent wildfires. Plans have been approved for Numatic International to install one-thousand solar panels on roof of their Chard factory. Somerset fast bowler, Jake Ball, has signed a new one-year contract that will keep him at the club for the 2027 season... and more
Tuesday 18th August

People across Somerset are banned from today from using hosepipes to water gardens, clean windows or cars, or fill swimming and paddling pools. More cases of the potentially deadly livestock disease Bluetongue have been confirmed in Somerset. Work is underway to improve disabled access at Holyrood Academy in Chard... and more
Monday 17th August

Wessex Water, who supplies almost all homes and businesses in Somerset, has introduced a hosepipe ban effective from midnight tonight. A sinkhole on Station Road in Castle Cary has been repaired, two years after it was first discovered. A Wildcat helicopter from RNAS Yeovilton has taken part in the annual passing-out parade at the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth... and more
Friday 14th August

Police are investigating an incident in which obscene words were scratched onto the World War One memorial at Ham Hill. Yeovil MP Adam Dance has repeated his call for the upgrade of the town’s police station to include a custody suite. A Somerset carnival club is building a specially adapted float to allow a wheelchair user and her assistance dog to take part in this year’s carnival circuit...and more
Thursday 13th August

An Ilminster family is celebrating after winning one million pounds on the National Lottery. Police have released a picture of a man they want to speak to in connection with suspected frauds in Somerset. Somerset Council has opened a tendering process to find a main contractor for the £15 million upgrade of Yeovil’s Octagon theatre... and more
Wednesday 12th August

Experts say with good visibility forecast for this evening, people across Somerset should have some of the best views of the solar eclipse anywhere in the UK. A Somerset councillor is calling for the Stop Line cycle route between Chard and Ilminster to be better supported. It's 40-years ago this week since a Lynx helicopter built in Yeovil set a new World Helicopter Speed Record... and more
Tuesday 11th August

Wessex Water says a hosepipe ban is possible if customers fail to cut their water usage. A record number of illegal dog fights were reported in Somerset last year. Yeovil Town's Mason Obeng has won the traditional sack of potatoes, given to the player who scores Yeovil's first goal of the new season, as a lucky omen... and more