Maternity services at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton have been upgraded from ‘inadequate’ to ‘requires improvement’ following a Care Quality Commission (CQC) report published on Friday, 4 September. This reflects notable progress since the previous inspection, though significant issues endure.
Catherine Campbell, Deputy Director of Hospitals for Somerset at the CQC, commented on the improved inspection findings: “We found a service that has advanced since our last visit. Women told us staff were compassionate and caring, going above and beyond - a credit to the whole team.”
The report highlights active improvement projects led by unit managers, concentrating on initial assessments and responses to complicated births. Additionally, a team member received a national award from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists for exemplary training and support of junior doctors.
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However, the report also identifies ongoing problems. These include mould and water leaks within clinical areas, as well as excessively long waits - up to ten hours - for medical reviews in triage, particularly since Musgrove Park took on patients from the temporary closure of Yeovil District Hospital’s maternity unit in May 2025.
Campbell emphasised: “While improvements are clear, critical safety concerns remain. The additional demand following Yeovil’s closure has significantly pressured the service.”
The Yeovil maternity and Special Care Baby Unit had closed due to CQC concerns but reopened in April. The transferred patient load strained Musgrove Park’s capacity, resulting in delays and, in some cases, women leaving without a care plan due to doctor availability issues - an unacceptable risk requiring urgent trust action.
Safeguarding practices were also found wanting, with some women not routinely asked about domestic violence, despite pregnancy being a high-risk period. Some referrals were missed or delayed. The trust acknowledges these issues and has begun addressing them, but further work is necessary to ensure consistent identification and action on safety needs.
Facility conditions remain problematic: water leaks into clinical spaces, mould on the postnatal ward’s walls and ceilings, inadequate storage causing cleaning equipment to be kept near public toilets in waiting areas - these must be remedied to secure a safe, clean environment for women, babies and staff.
MP for Taunton and Wellington, Gideon Amos, has campaigned for a new maternity ward, reflecting ongoing community concern about the building’s condition.
Additional concerns raised include incomplete medicine records, compromising safe clinical decision-making, and a lack of privacy on the postnatal ward, where women and babies remain in large, shared rooms with multiple beds, hindering private conversations.
The CQC affirmed that findings have been shared with the trust and monitoring will continue to ensure improvements are implemented and patient safety maintained.
Professor Deirdre Fowler, Chief Nurse and Midwife at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, stated: “We have made substantial improvements since the November 2023 CQC inspection. The new ratings reflect both progress and the work still required to enhance maternity services across Somerset.”
She expressed gratitude to women, families, the Somerset Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership, and staff for their ongoing collaboration and dedication to providing safe, compassionate care.
Professor Fowler acknowledged the pressures experienced when Yeovil’s services were temporarily closed. Since their reopening in April, the trust is addressing the issues highlighted.
She further commented on the limitations posed by the outdated and cramped Musgrove Park maternity unit, which impacts care quality for mothers, babies, families, and staff. Despite efforts, the facility is unfit for modern NHS use and requires urgent replacement.
The trust remains committed to continuing improvements based on the inspection outcomes and the 10 Point Plan following the National Investigation into Maternity and Neonatal Services report.
Support is available for current maternity service users through community midwives, the trust’s Patient Advice and Liaison Service, and the independent Somerset Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership.