LEAGUE OF FRIENDS GIVES £1.5m TO MUSGROVE PARK HOSPITAL

February 15, 2023

Surgeons at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust (FT) are set to begin using robotic surgery for the first time in Somerset – thanks to a £1.5 million commitment from the Musgrove Park Hospital League of Friends


The money will buy a da Vinci Xi surgical system, which will enable surgeons at the hospital to perform more intricate, less invasive surgery. It means that robotic surgery could now be used in a number of different disciplines within the hospital.


Mr Paul Mackey, a consultant colorectal surgeon at Somerset FT, said: “This new development represents huge progress in the field of surgery – for the surgeon and the patient. We are so grateful to the League of Friends – it really is a fantastic gift.


Over the last five years the League of Friends has provided more than £4 million to Musgrove Park Hospital, including recent funding for equipment – not just large items but small items that can make a real difference to patients and colleagues, such as chairs, resuscitators, dementia kits, water coolers and training aids


None of this would have been possible without a number of legacies over the last couple of years, as well as donations by individuals and organisations. Peter Renshaw, Chairman of the League of Friends, said: “It’s been an incredible effort by all involved and I would like to thank all those many people who have helped us. It not only improves the life of patients and staff, but it helps ensure that Musgrove has the latest state of the art equipment, which helps with the recruitment and retention of the best staff. The League has been supporting the hospital for more than 60 years. We are proud of what the funding has made possible and we’re particularly excited about the introduction of robotic surgery in the coming months.”


Commenting on the new robotic equipment, Mr Richard Bamford, one of Somerset FT’s colorectal surgeons, said it was a great step forward for surgery in Somerset. “The term ‘robotic’ often misleads people,” he said. “Robots don’t actually perform surgery – the surgeon still does that using instruments that they guide via a console. The system translates the surgeon’s hand movements at the console in real time, bending and rotating the instruments while performing the procedure. The tiny instruments move like a human hand, but with a greater range of motion. It also means we will be able to conduct more intricate surgery, which will be less invasive for the patient.”


Dr Daniel Meron, Chief Medical Officer at Somerset FT, said “We are very grateful to our League of Friends and its donors for funding this exciting surgery. We want to embrace the latest cutting-edge technology, which can improve the care and treatment we are able to provide for our patients. We hope this will be a real boost for our colleagues too and I’m looking forward to seeing our surgeons making full use of the robots.”


Peter Renshaw said that much of the money raised by the League came from legacies, adding: “The gift of a legacy can make a real difference even 20 or 30 years later and I would encourage people who have benefitted from care and treatment at Musgrove to consider making arrangements in their Will. It’s a great way to give something back in a way that really helps people.”


Pictured (left to right): Miss Shelly Griffiths – General Surgery Consultant, Mr Richard Bamford – Colorectal Consultant, Dr Jasmine Lucas – League of Friends, Miss Louise Hunt – General Surgery Consultant, Mr Edward Smyth – Consultant Surgeon.

MORE THAN £7,500 RAISED BY RUNNING THE LONDON MARATHON

May 5, 2026
A Formula 1 journalist and broadcaster who grew up in Somerset has raised more than £7,500 for the League of Friends of Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton, running the London Marathon. Chris Medland (37) was moved to support the charity following the death of his mother Jacqueline in the hospital. Chris and his sister were offered the use of Bastable Lodge, a bungalow in the grounds of the hospital, built by the League of Friends for the use of families of critically ill patients. Today Chris said: “My job takes me all over the world on a regular basis and I now live in Wokingham near Reading, but as my mum deteriorated I was able to get back from an F1 race in Azerbaijan and be with her. “On what turned out to be her final night, my family were approached by an amazing support worker who informed us about the bungalow that the League of Friends provides on-site for those with loved ones in the hospital. “It proved to be an absolutely incredible resource for us, as my sister and I could get some sleep and stay close, with mum passing away the following night. “Mum received incredible care at Musgrove throughout her treatment, but the fact that something was made available to us as a family when we needed it most - at no cost at all - was hugely touching, and I wanted to do something to repay League of Friends in some way. So having been lucky enough to gain a ballot place for this year's London Marathon, I planned on fundraising for the charity.” League of Friends President Clinton Rogers said Chris’ efforts were “hugely appreciated”. He added: “Bastable Lodge has benefited so many families over the years and we were so pleased to be able to help Chris and his sister. But what he has done for us in return is extraordinary.” Chris, whose father still lives at Horton, near llminster, had set himself a target of £2,500 but in the end trebled that figure, and money is still coming in. He described the whole day as “incredibly emotional”, and the very next day he was on a plane to Miami to cover another Formula 1 race! He added: “Sadly, in February, my wife and I lost what would have been our first child, and as I had already struggled for training motivation (I ran the marathon the previous year for Macmillan and had been far more committed to training then), I nearly didn't go ahead with running. “But I also wanted to do something to honour both my mum and our little bean, so with just over six weeks to go to the marathon - on March 10 - I resolved to restart training and get the fundraising going. I just wanted to show how massively grateful I am for what the League of Friends provides at Musgrove.”

THE LEAGUE OF FRIENDS OF MUSGROVE PARK HOSPITAL HAS GIVEN £835,000 TO BUY A STATE OF THE ART SPINAL SURGERY ROBOT.

By Clinton Rogers • May 5, 2026
Musgrove is now only the second hospital of its size in the UK - outside of the large teaching hospitals - to have access to what the NHS describes as "revolutionary" technology for spinal fusion surgery. Spinal fusions are usually carried out for patients with back pain or cancer. Ashok Subramanian, consultant spinal surgeon at Musgrove, said: "We are so grateful to the League of Friends. It is a fabulous donation. This has helped us to perform spinal fusion surgery safely. "We've got only a few millimetres of a safe zone there - and if you miss that it's a risk of injury." Ashok said having the option of robotic surgery will "make a huge difference". "From the surgeon's point of view, we can focus on complex stages of the surgery with a fresher mind because the thinking is done outside the theatre beforehand." Clinton Rogers, President of the League of Friends, said: “Our aim is to invest in equipment which makes a real difference at Musgrove. And this machine certainly fits that bill. We were delighted to support it.” 

RACE DAY SUCCESS FOR LEAGUE OF FRIENDS

By Clinton Rogers • January 12, 2026
The League of Friends of Musgrove Park Hospital has raised close to £1,000 through a collection at Taunton Races on December 30 th . League Chairman Nigel Handbury said today: “It was the busiest meet of the year for the racecourse and a fantastic day for us. “We are so grateful to people who gave so generously and to the course itself for allowing us to collect on the day. It means a lot to our charity.” The League of Friends. which is one of the oldest charities in Taunton, set up more than 60 years ago, is currently trying to raise around £1 million to fund and support a specialist robot to assist with spinal surgery at the hospital. League President Clinton Rogers commented: “This is a massive campaign for us and it is so important that we support spinal surgery at the hospital. “This piece of kit is state of the art and Musgrove will be one of only a few hospitals in the UK to have it.” PICTURE ATTACHED (left to right): League of Friends President Clinton Rogers, his wife Joanne, Susan Handbury and League Chairman Nigel Handbury, collecting at the race.

Taunton Inner Wheel

By Clinton Rogers • November 7, 2025
The League of Friends is extremely grateful to Taunton Inner Wheel for choosing us as their nominated charity for the coming year. Our President Clinton Rogers and his wife Joanne attended an "autumn soiree" organised by the group, which raised more than £1,000. What a great start to their year of fundraising! Clinton said: "It was a lovely evening and the joint presidents of Inner Wheel, Margaret Blackaller and Marlene Ewens, made Jo and I feel so welcome. Fundraising is so hard these days and to have the support of Inner Wheel is truly appreciated."

AGM

October 23, 2025
League of Friends Musgrove Park Hospital Annual General Meeting

BIG DONATON TO LEAGUE OF FRIENDS

By Clinton Rogers • July 25, 2025
The League of Friends of Musgrove Park Hospital has just accepted a cheque for £5,000 from the Rotary Club of Taunton Rotary chose the League of Friends as its nominated charity for the past year and the money raised came from various events, including a large quiz evening at Oake Village Hall and providing charity parking for Somerset Cricket Club matches, thanks to waste management company Viridor allowing its site next door to be used on match days. Today Tracey Khodabandehloo, President of the Rotary Club of Taunton for the past year, said: “The Rotary Club of Taunton has a long association with the Musgrove Park Hospital League of Friends, having founded the League in 1959. “I chose the charity in my presidential year due to the fantastic support they continue to provide to patients and families attending the hospital. I’m sure the Rotarians who founded the League of Friends all those years ago would be thrilled to see the legacy they have left.” The donation will go towards proving specialist chairs for use of older, less mobile patients within the hospital. Clinton Rogers, President of the League of Friends, commented: “To have such a generous donation from the charity to which we owe our existence is very special. “Our work simply couldn’t continue without public support, whether it be fund raising or legacies. Charity fund raising gets harder every year so to receive a cheque like this is a huge boost.” To find out more about the work of the League of Friends visit: www.leagueoffriendsmusgrovepark.co.uk ENDS PICTURE CAPTION (left to right): Adrian Prior-Sankey (Rotary Club current President - took over this month), Tracey Khodabandehloo, Rotary President 2024/5, Clinton Rogers, President of the League of Friends, Nigel Handbury, Chairman of the League of Friends and Mike Parsons, Rotary Club Secretary. Further information from Clinton ( Clinton.rogers@btinternet.com ) or 07836 575911
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