MPs push for Yeovil maternity services to be prioritised in government review
The Somerset NHS Foundation Trust announced on May 12 that it would be closing Yeovil’s birthing and special care baby units for a minimum of six months
Last updated 1st Jul 2025
Somerset MPs have urged the government not to overlook Yeovil Hospital’s plight in its new review of NHS maternity services.
The Somerset NHS Foundation Trust announced on May 12 that it would be closing Yeovil’s birthing and special care baby units (SCBU) for a minimum of six months, following an official warning notice from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) about the standard of care being provided.
The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) announced on June 23 that it would be launching a “rapid national investigation into NHS maternity and neonatal services”, following concerns raised at several hospital trusts.
Two of Somerset’s MPs have urged the government to ensure Yeovil Hospital is included front and centre in this review, which is expected to report by Christmas – shortly after the NHS Somerset integrated care board (ICB) will have reviewed its closure.
The initial review will reportedly will focus on up to ten of the most at risk maternity units – with Yeovil MP Adam Dance expressing concerns that his constituency would not be included, leaving expectant mothers in limbo.
Speaking in a recent House of Commons debate, Mr Dance warned that the sudden closure of Yeovil’s maternity services had “left a dangerous gap in care” and could lead to avoidable harm without urgent intervention.
He elaborated: “Somerset has been hit hard by the loss of services in Yeovil.
“We’ve had expectant mothers forced to travel up to an hour for care, neighbouring hospitals overwhelmed, and hard-working staff pushed to their limits. Lessons need to be learned.
“This is not just about one hospital. This is about the future of safe, accessible maternity care across Somerset.
“We need urgent answers, immediate investment, and a firm commitment that no more families will be left behind.”
Mr Dance has been joined in this crusade by fellow Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Dyke, whose Glastonbury and Somerton constituency relies closely on Yeovil Hospital for a range of medical services.
She said: “I welcome the news that the government is taking this seriously and has launched an inquiry into maternity services, but I would urge them to act more quickly.
“Maternity units across the country have been underfunded for years due to Conservative government cuts to rural health services.
“The Somerset NHS Foundation Trust must be given the funding and resources it requires to properly staff the Yeovil maternity unit, and to provide a safe environment for women to give birth to their children as a matter of urgency.
“I will work alongside my fellow Lib Dem MPs in Somerset and Dorset to ensure the vital services at Yeovil Hospital are restored as soon as possible.
“I will not compromise on my commitment to ensure the highest-level quality of care for all residents of Glastonbury and Somerton.”
Following the MPs’ comments, the CQC published the full findings of its inspection of Yeovil Hospital on Friday (June 27).
This inspection, carried out in January, was the first inspection it had carried out of children and young people’s services since Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust merged with the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust in April 2023.
Yeovil Hospital’s neonatal and maternity facilities were rated ‘inadequate’, with inspectors identifying a number of issues with the care being provided.
For instance, consultant paediatricians or associate specialists did not see all children admitted with acute medical problems or those attending the emergency department within 14 hours, breaching national guidance.
Staff additional “did not always manage emergency situations effectively”, potentially putting patients at risk of harm.
On a more positive note, the inspection found that there was “integrated, holistic paediatric care, supported by a clear long-term vision and strategy”, and that information was securely passed between staff members on handovers and shift changes.
Catherine Campbell, CQC deputy director for operations in the south, said: “During our inspection, we found that the paediatric service lacked enough qualified and experienced staff during its busiest times to meet people’s needs.
“There was also a lack of timely learning from significant incidents. While staff reported and investigated events, the lessons weren’t consistently applied to improve care or embed good practice.
“In contrast, at Musgrove Park Hospital, we saw a strong learning culture where staff felt safe to raise concerns and were actively involved in safeguarding.
“The warning notice we’ve issued will help focus attention on the areas needing urgent and sustained improvement. We’ll continue to monitor these services closely to ensure progress and to keep children and young people safe.”
Peter Lewis, chief executive of the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, officially responded to the CQC report on Friday (June 27), stating that he and his colleagues were working hard to improve Yeovil’s service with a view to reopening the SCBU as soon as possible.
He said: “We are working hard to address the safety, quality and fragility of the paediatric service at Yeovil Hospital.
“Our priorities are to provide an equitable service for babies, children and young people across Somerset, to recruit to key roles, and to ensure our paediatric services have strong governance processes and a positive learning culture.
“To achieve this, we are doing a number of things, including designing and recruiting to senior paediatric roles across Somerset (which provide opportunities for candidates to specialise in either paediatrics or
neonatology and will play a leading role in the improvement of the service), looking at what we can learn from other providers, and working through the steps and criteria that need to be in place for us to enable us to reopen the SCBU and inpatient maternity services.
“This is a very challenging time, but we are confident that we can build a stronger, more sustainable service for babies, children and young people in Somerset.
““I thank everyone who is working hard to achieve this, who is working differently through this difficult period and is supporting those whose care has been affected by the temporary closure of the SCBU and inpatient maternity services at Yeovil.
“We undertook to provide a formal review of the temporary closures after three and six months.
“This will provide updates on the impact of the temporary closures, and our work to improve the safety, quality and fragility of the paediatric service at Yeovil Hospital as we work to provide an equitable service for babies, children and young people across Somerset.”
The government’s maternity services review is expected to report in December, with any recommendations being implemented in early-2026.