Musgrove Park Hospital’s Acute Medical Unit has been recognised as the highest-ranked acute medicine training department in the country, after achieving the top score in the 2026 General Medical Council National Training Survey.
The achievement places the Somerset unit first out of 189 acute medical units nationwide for overall satisfaction among doctors in training, highlighting the exceptional learning culture, support and supervision provided within the department.
The GMC’s annual survey gathers feedback from resident doctors on a range of areas, including educational supervision, teaching quality, clinical support and workplace culture. The latest results mark a significant milestone for the Musgrove team, which has consistently featured among the highest-performing acute medicine units in the UK, regularly ranking within the national top five or top 10.
According to Acute Medicine Consultant Dr Tom Payne, the latest recognition reflects a culture of continuous learning and collaboration that has become embedded across the unit.
“We’re really proud of the result. 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 something we’ve been able to maintain, which means it’s embedded in the way we work and is there all the time.”
Musgrove’s Acute Medical Unit provides care for patients admitted with a broad range of urgent and complex medical conditions. The fast-paced nature of the department creates extensive opportunities for learning, making it an attractive environment for doctors in training and members of the wider multidisciplinary team.
Dr Payne outlined how one of the department’s greatest strengths is its commitment to shared learning, regardless of professional background or level of seniority.
“This has been a big team effort,” he added. “It’s the way we all work together and learn together – not just our resident doctors learning from us, but we also learn from them.
“If there’s something we’re not sure about, we’ll look it up together and talk it through as a group.
“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. Hopefully that filters through the whole team, and everyone grows together.”
A key focus within the unit is helping resident doctors build confidence and autonomy while ensuring they always have access to expert supervision and support.
Dr Payne also said the balance between independence and guidance has contributed significantly to the positive feedback received from trainees.
The success has been credited to the collective efforts of colleagues across the department, including consultants, resident doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and other healthcare professionals.
Beyond celebrating a national accolade, the team hopes the achievement will help attract and retain talented clinicians in the years ahead. By providing an exceptional training experience, Musgrove aims to encourage future consultants and senior clinicians to return to Somerset later in their careers.
The success at Musgrove Park Hospital comes alongside rising performance in acute medicine training at Yeovil Hospital, where colleagues have significantly improved their scores over the past year, reflecting broader progress across acute medicine services.
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