Support Adam Dance MP’s Campaign for Immediate Action to Reopen Yeovil Hospital’s Maternity Unit

Why Did the Maternity Unit Close?

The closure follows a critical Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection in January 2025, which highlighted serious concerns over staffing and governance within the hospital’s paediatric services. This has directly affected the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU), which is a vital part of the maternity service. Senior paediatricians have been hit by high levels of sickness, creating dangerous gaps in the rota. As a result, this has led to a decision to temporarily close the maternity unit for safety reasons. The trust has also failed to offer a clear timeline for when the unit will reopen, leaving our community in limbo. 

The Impact on Our Community

The closure has forced expectant mothers to travel to other hospitals in Taunton, Bath, and Dorchester, creating unnecessary stress and hardship for families. Adam Dance, has voiced his concerns over the uncertainty and lack of a clear plan. He has been vocal in calling for the immediate restoration of local maternity services, stressing that the community deserves better than vague assurances. He insists that a specific date for reopening is needed, and that families deserve transparency and certainty.

Adam’s Demands

• A firm and publicly communicated timeline for the reopening of Yeovil Hospital’s maternity unit.
• Immediate measures to address staffing shortages and governance issues within the hospital’s paediatric services.
• A comprehensive and actionable plan to ensure the safety and quality of maternity services upon reopening.
• Full transparency and regular updates from Somerset NHS Foundation Trust to the local community regarding the status and progress of the maternity unit.

Adam Dance continues to fight for the needs of local families and is demanding that the Trust prioritises the reopening of the maternity unit. He is committed to ensuring that mothers and babies in Yeovil receive the safe, reliable, and accessible care they deserve.

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If you have been affected by the temporary closure of Yeovil Hospital’s maternity services and need advice, support, or wish to share your concerns, we encourage you to contact the Somerset PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service). PALS can help answer questions, resolve issues, and guide you through available NHS services. You can reach them by phone on 0300 124 8666 or by email at pals@somersetft.nhs.uk.

Additionally, if you would like to voice your concerns directly about the impact of the closure, you can contact Peter Lewis, Chief Executive of the Somerset Integrated Care Board (ICB), by emailing somicb.welcome@nhs.net. Your feedback is important and helps ensure the voices of local families are heard at the highest level.

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Please stand with Adam Dance in holding the NHS to account and demand that our local maternity services are reinstated as soon as possible.