Health advocates and local officials have voiced strong opposition to the planned closure of the hyper-acute stroke unit (HASU) at Yeovil Hospital, warning that the decision threatens patient safety and could worsen outcomes for urgent stroke cases.
In January 2024, the NHS Somerset integrated care board approved a plan to remove Yeovil’s HASU, redirecting emergency stroke patients to Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton or Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester based on proximity. While the hospital will retain its acute stroke unit (ASU) for less critical stroke care, the loss of the HASU means that the most time-sensitive stroke patients will face longer ambulance journeys.
Local residents and politicians, including Yeovil MP Adam Dance and Yeovil Town Council, have sought a review from the Department for Health and Social Care, but efforts to ‘call in’ the decision have so far been unsuccessful. Concerns center on delayed ambulance response times and increased travel distances to alternative HASUs, potentially compromising the critical first 72 hours post-stroke where rapid treatment is vital.
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NHS officials assure the public that enhancements to ambulance response capabilities and hospital facilities are underway. Musgrove Park’s HASU improvements are expected by late May, with further upgrades through August. Dorchester’s new HASU is on track for completion in June. Meanwhile, Yeovil’s ASU is relocating within the hospital to provide improved rehabilitation amenities, including an expanded therapy gym and communal kitchen. The new stroke service setup is scheduled to launch in September, with patient transport systems adapted to support ongoing recovery closer to home.
However, campaigners like Ray Tostevin of the Quicksilver Community Group argue that without significant reductions in ambulance response times, the closure poses serious risks. “Improving care facilities won’t mean much if patients can’t get to them in time,” Tostevin stated at a Somerset Council scrutiny committee. He called for a halt to the closure plan and investment to enhance Yeovil’s existing HASU capacity, emphasizing the need for robust patient safety measures.
Councillor Lucy Trimnell echoed these sentiments, highlighting community mistrust in ambulance reliability and the challenges posed by road congestion in rural areas. She stressed the importance of addressing workforce shortages that hamper local services and urged proactive efforts to attract healthcare professionals to Somerset.
From the clinical perspective, Dr. Rob Whiting, a consultant stroke physician at Musgrove, emphasized ongoing efforts to improve ambulance performance. The South West Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust categorizes strokes as a ‘category two’ emergency, targeting average response times of 27 to 30 minutes. Chris Turner, area head of ambulance operations, reinforced the message: “In any medical emergency, including stroke, calling an ambulance immediately remains critical.”
As the changes approach, the debate underscores the delicate balance between centralizing specialist services and ensuring timely access for rural communities. For many in Yeovil and Somerset, the future of stroke care remains a pressing concern that they urge decision-makers to reconsider.