A final decision regarding the relaunch of maternity services at Yeovil Hospital is anticipated as early as October, according to Somerset health officials.
The Somerset NHS Foundation Trust temporarily closed the special care baby unit (SCBU) and inpatient maternity service at Yeovil Hospital on May 19, citing concerns about the “safety, quality and fragility of the paediatric service” at the site.
A thorough three-month review was conducted in mid-August, and by mid-September, the trust reported making significant progress with staff recruitment. Plans to reopen the services are underway, pending careful evaluation to ensure patient safety.
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The NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board (ICB) has confirmed that another review will take place in October, during which specific timelines for reopening these crucial services will be established.
Escalating patient demand following the closure has seen 90 additional births at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton—a maternity unit currently in need of urgent repairs—and 96 additional births at Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester. Smaller increases were noted at the Royal United Hospital in Bath and Salisbury District Hospital in Wiltshire, while home births remained steady.
At the ICB meeting in Yeovil on September 25, Chief Nursing Officer and Director of Operations Shelagh Meldrum highlighted improvements in safety as teams collaborated and refined operational approaches.
Importantly, no adverse incidents were linked directly to the temporary closure, and many patients who were scheduled to give birth at Yeovil Hospital provided positive feedback on the care received elsewhere.
Despite exploring alternatives such as a phased reopening, including a planned Caesarean section service without SCBU availability and a midwife-led unit, these options were deemed either unsafe or impractical under current circumstances.
To reopen SCBU and inpatient maternity services, the trust must meet stringent criteria, notably securing experienced paediatric consultants and enhancing integration across paediatric teams throughout the trust.
Ms. Meldrum expressed optimism about the October review, suggesting it will provide clarity and confirmed dates for reopening. Recruitment efforts continue actively, with a preference for staff to be based at Yeovil, working collaboratively within a cross-Somerset team.
The trust emphasizes that the forthcoming reopening will be more than just restoring services—it will be a comprehensive relaunch focused on delivering high-quality, safe maternity care.