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.

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Friday 4th July

Charity shops in Somerset report that they have received donations of dirty clothing and even soiled nappies. Plans have been submitted to build a further fifty new homes in Crewkerne. The National Audit Office says extra government funding to improve bus services, including in Somerset, has failed to deliver an increase in passenger numbers...and more
Thursday 3rd July

Dorset County Hospital is preparing to handle an increased number of births from now until the end of the year, following the closure of Yeovil Hospital's Maternity Unit. A number of former and current serving military personnel are pursuing the Ministry of Defence for compensation. Vandals have damaged a wooden shelter at the recreation ground in Ilminster...and more
Wednesday 2nd July

Business owners in Chard say ongoing roadworks in Fore Street are hurting their trade. A vehicle has been destroyed in a fire at a farm at Charlton Mackrell. A new recycling scheme has been launched to support Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. Castle Carey has created a Scarecrow Festival...and more
Tuesday 1st July

A murder trial starts today of the parents of a baby boy who died in Yeovil Hospital. Somerset residents are being asked to keep an eye on elderly neighbours, with temperatures expected to reach the high 20s again today. A tiny black kitten has been found inside a crate of laundry delivered to a cleaning business in Yeovil...and more
Monday 30th June

The Care Quality Commission has published its report into the running of the maternity unit at Yeovil Hospital. A public consultation has been launched into plans to build 150 new homes at Horton near Ilminster. A Chard man has embarked on walking 75 miles across Somerset, raising money for the Devon Air Ambulance...and more
Friday 27th June

Yeovil MP Adam Dance is calling for Yeovil Hospital to be included in the government's national review of NHS maternity services. A Yeovil man has appeared in court charged with four counts of fraud. Yeovil Town players will be modelling the club’s new home and away strip at Huish Park this evening...and more.
Thursday 26th June

Thousands more music fans will arrive at Worthy Farm for the start of Glastonbury Festival. The government has granted Somerset Council a stay of execution, allowing it to defer a spending deficit on special needs education. A party has been held to mark the 100th birthday of a Somerset woman who has lived in the same house for 100 years...and more.
Wednesday 25th June

Businesses at the Cartgate services off the A303 near Yeovil say they feel threatened by Welcome Break Ltd's plans to build a new, bigger services area right next door. A man who lives in Tintinhull, found nearly double the drink drive limit, has been given a 20-month driving ban. Police are warning of fake tickets being on sale for Glastonbury Festival...and more