PATIENTS from the Wellington and West Somerset areas were facing chaos on Friday (November 7) as they tried to attend appointments in Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, following a crash which left the hospital’s multi-storey car park unsafe.

The Cedars car park, operated by private parking firm Q-Park, was closed after an electric vehicle crashed into a wall and starting emitting smoke on the first floor of the building shortly after 11 am.

Two casualties from the car were taken into the hospital by medical staff.

Both Wellington fire crews were sent to the scene to help make the situation safe and they isolated the vehicle’s batteries before arrangements were made for it to be recovered in the next day or two.

There were reports the car was wedged into an outer wall of the car park which was collapsing and only held up by its metal caging.

Security staff quickly closed the five-storey car park, which has 736 parking spaces, and led people to safety around the crash site.

How Musgrove's second multi-storey car park could look once it is built in the 2030s.
How Musgrove's second multi-storey car park could look once it is built in the 2030s. (Contributed)

Long queues of traffic built up as people arriving for appointments or to visit patients were unable to find anywhere to park.

A spokesperson for Somerset NHS Foundation Trust which runs Musgrove, said the car park reopened at 2.15 pm with the damaged car and a nearby pavement cordoned off.

The spokesperson said damage to the wall of the car park was ‘cosmetic’ and would be assessed and repaired ‘in due course’.

Musgrove opened all other car parks on the hospital site, including those used for staff, although space was ‘very limited’, until the multi-storey was reopened.

People were advised during the closure to consider using the park and ride bus service or other public transport, or use drop-off areas.

The spokesperson said: “Please continue to attend your appointments as normal but allow some extra time where possible.

“If you are concerned about making it to your appointment, please call the number on your appointment letter.

“If your car is currently parked in the multi-storey car park, then you can collect it and leave as usual.

“Marshals from Q-Park are on site to assist if needed.”

A second multi-storey car park with 355 spaces has been approved for Musgrove but construction has been delayed until the early 2030s.