MATERNITY services at Yeovil District Hospital (YDH) have been closed amid “concerns about the safety of the care for babies and children”.

The Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has announced the temporary move as it “cannot currently safely run the SCBU and safely provide care during labour and birth at the Yeovil Maternity Unit”.

It follows and inspection of children’s services at Yeovil hospital in January which resulted in the Care Quality Commission (CQC) issuing a Section 29A warning – that care required ‘significant improvement’.

Now, amid high levels of sickness among senior doctors, the trust has decided to close the services.

Dr Melanie Iles, chief medical officer for the trust, said: “This is a very difficult decision that we have not taken lightly. We have made it after careful consideration, and a clinical assessment of those services, in discussion with NHS partners.

“I want to personally say sorry to local people who are affected by these temporary closures.

“These temporary closures have come about as a result of concerns about our care for babies and children at YDH.

“The Care Quality Commission inspected our paediatric services in January and issued a Section 29A warning notice because it assessed that the paediatric care we provide at YDH requires significant improvement.

“We also currently have high levels of sickness amongst senior paediatricians which has caused big gaps in our rota.

“Senior paediatricians from Musgrove Park Hospital are supporting the service at YDH, to ensure that paediatric inpatient and outpatient services at YDH are open for those who need them.

“However, we are not able to support the SCBU in the same way and therefore we must close it temporarily on safety grounds.”

The YDH inpatient maternity service “cannot care for any newborns who require care in a Special Care Baby Unit or safely provide care during labour and birth at the Yeovil Maternity Unit”, she said.

“Most services remain open, and we are working with neighbouring NHS trusts and the Somerset Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership to ensure that pregnant women, birthing people and their newborn babies receive the care and support they need,” Dr Iles went on.

“We are committed to providing safe, high quality and sustainable services for those who need them, but we must address these concerns and need the time and space to do this. I apologise again to anyone who is affected by these changes.”

READ MORE: Health news from your Somerset Leveller

Advice for patients and service users at Yeovil District Hospital Maternity Unit:

The following services are open and unchanged:
– Outpatient clinics for pregnant mothers such as obstetric and midwifery antenatal clinics, scanning, antenatal screening services and home births will continue at Yeovil Hospital as normal.
– Inpatient and outpatient paediatric services at YDH are open and there for those who need them.
Changes to services from 5pm on Monday, May 19, that will affect pregnant women, birthing people and newborn babies are:

The care of pregnant women and birthing people will be transferred to give birth at Musgrove Park Hospital or the maternity units at Dorchester or Bath.

Dr Melanie Iles, chief medical officer for the trust, apologised to the people of Yeovil and surrounds

The trust is working with the Somerset Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership and neighbouring NHS trusts to ensure pregnant women and newborn babies have access to the care they need.

People are urged to speak to your midwife or the Somerset Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership if you have questions or concerns.

NHS Somerset has set up a helpline to answer queries or questions, on 0300 303 6409.

MP Adam Dance (Lib Dem, Yeovil) reacted to the news and said: “I am extremely concerned by the decision to close Yeovil Maternity Unit — even if the Trust says it is temporary. Like many people across our community, I find this deeply unsettling and unacceptable.

“I have directly asked senior figures at the Trust for reassurance that the service will reopen after six months — and they have been unable to give it.

“That’s simply not good enough. Families in Yeovil deserve more than vague promises — they deserve answers, action, and proper access to care.

“Moving all services to Taunton, where staff have already raised concerns about not having enough capacity to manage their own patient load, is deeply troubling.

“Expecting that overstretched service to safely take on additional cases from Yeovil is not realistic, and it risks putting even more pressure on dedicated staff already at breaking point.

“I’ve also been contacted by constituents raising serious concerns about longstanding problems within Yeovil Maternity Unit: poor management, unsafe working conditions, and how staff have been treated. These cannot be swept under the rug — they must be addressed openly and urgently.

“This isn’t just about buildings and services. It’s about trust — and right now, that trust has been badly damaged.

“I will keep pushing for a full explanation from Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and NHS Somerset, and I won’t stop demanding a clear plan to restore safe, local maternity care in Yeovil. Our community cannot afford to lose this service for good.”

Sarah Dyke MP has called for answers over the closure decision

And fellow MP Sarah Dyke (Lib Dem, Glastonbury & Somerton) also expressed her concern at the decision.

“This will have a detrimental impact on patient outcomes and I am worried it could become a permanent closure unless urgent action is taken,” she said.

She said she had spoken to the CEO of the Trust, Peter Lewis, to “outline my alarm regarding the impact this decision will have on women, particularly those at the later stages of their pregnancy”.

“Disappointingly, he was unable to give me the reassurances I sought for my constituents, who should always be able to access local, safe and compassionate care, without question,” she added.

“There are many questions still to be answered, including how this decision will affect capacity at Musgrove Park, Dorchester and Bath maternity units, and above all, how it will affect safety for mothers and babies who need care and may have to travel further.”