Somerset health officials have postponed any decision on reopening Yeovil Hospital’s maternity services until late this summer, following a temporary closure prompted by safety concerns. On May 12, the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust announced a six-month closure of Yeovil’s birthing and special care baby units (SCBU) after a Care Quality Commission (CQC) warning highlighted issues with the standard of care.
Yeovil MP Adam Dance led a peaceful protest outside the hospital following the May 19 closure, demanding accountability within the trust’s senior leadership if the services were not restored. Trust Chief Executive Jonathan Higman has pledged to do everything possible to reopen maternity services but confirmed no formal decisions will come before a full report due mid-August.
Higman emphasized that this closure is separate from recent changes to Yeovil’s stroke services, assuring commitment to maintaining essential hospital services in the town. Speaking at an NHS Somerset integrated care board meeting on May 22, he acknowledged the concerns of patients and staff and explained the decision prioritized safety amid high consultant paediatrician sickness and staffing shortages.
READ MORE: Retro-Inspired Daytime Party in Weston-Super-Mare Supports School Fund
READ MORE: Extra Care Apartments Approved for Burnham-on-Sea After Successful Appeal
While inpatient paediatric services remain open, the trust could not safely support the SCBU, prompting the temporary closure on safety grounds. Community outpatient and maternity services continue, with efforts underway alongside neighboring trusts to provide necessary care for expectant mothers and newborns.
The trust is actively recruiting new staff to ensure a safe reopening and will present an interim progress report to the integrated care board on August 19, followed by a public update in September. Higman stressed the closure was not financially motivated, noting additional costs incurred due to using alternative facilities and managing staff rotations.
The temporary loss of Yeovil’s SCBU follows the removal of its hyper-acute stroke unit due to similar staffing challenges. Despite public concerns linking the two, the trust has clarified that each decision was made independently and aimed at enhancing patient safety and outcomes. Investment continues with new developments including a breast cancer unit and an upcoming state-of-the-art diagnostic center.
MP Adam Dance expressed ongoing worry about the maternity closure but welcomed the commitment to transparency and the planned review in August. He emphasized the need for safe, accessible, and sustainable maternity care, advocating for local voices to be central in decisions affecting the community. Similarly, Wells and Mendip Hills MP Tessa Munt stressed the importance of quality hospital care for rural communities, vowing to campaign for continued funding of local services.