Musgrove Park Hospital's acute medical training rated best in national survey
Hospital's acute medical team achieves top score in doctor training satisfaction
Musgrove Park Hospital's acute medical unit has been recognised as the best in the country for doctor training satisfaction according to the General Medical Council (GMC) national training survey for 2026.
The survey, which assesses the experiences of doctors in training—including supervision, support, teaching quality, and team culture—placed Musgrove Park Hospital first among 189 acute medical units nationwide.
Team Achievement at Musgrove Park Hospital
This accolade marks a significant achievement for Somerset NHS Foundation Trust’s acute medical unit, which has consistently ranked highly on the national scale, often within the top five or ten previously.
Dr Tom Payne, a consultant in acute medicine at Musgrove Park Hospital, attributes the success to the strong team culture prevalent in the unit. "We’re really proud of the result," Dr Payne said.
"We’ve had consistently high scores over the years and there’s definitely something nice about being number one and getting that top spot. It shows that we can be consistent, and that it’s not just a one-off. It’s embedded in the way we work."
A Unique Learning Environment
Known as the Acute Medical Unit (AMU), the facility provides care for a diverse array of urgent medical conditions, creating a vibrant and fast-paced atmosphere ideal for learning.
Dr Payne highlights the shared learning approach among all levels in the unit as a key factor in their success: "Every day is an opportunity to learn and improve, whether that’s me, the most senior consultant, or the newest person to the team.
We’re embedding that in everything we do, so that every day is an opportunity to improve and learn something new."
A Collaborative Atmosphere
The success of Musgrove’s training programme is attributed to a team-wide effort encompassing consultants, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.
Dr Payne praised the collaborative spirit: "It’s not only the doctors who have contributed to our success. Without all of those other teams, none of us could do as good a job as we do, and I think it makes the environment a really positive one."
Future Implications
The outcome of the survey not only recognises the quality of training but also sets the stage for attracting future medical professionals.
Dr Payne said, "Ultimately, we hope that by giving people a good experience, when those trainees move on, they might come back in five or 10 years and become long-term colleagues here."
Furthermore, Yeovil Hospital’s acute medicine service, part of the wider team, has shown notable improvement in scores, highlighting progress across the region.