Adam Dance MP welcomes safe reopening of Yeovil maternity and baby unit

Yeovil MP Adam Dance has welcomed the upcoming reopening of inpatient maternity services and the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at Yeovil District Hospital, following sustained campaigning for their safe return.

The services are due to reopen at midday on Tuesday 21 April, after a temporary closure last year due to concerns around the safety and resilience of paediatric services.

Since the closure, Adam has been actively raising the issue at the highest levels, including in Parliament at Prime Minister’s Questions, and working closely with local clinicians and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust to ensure services could return safely.

He also hosted Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey in Yeovil to highlight the importance of protecting local maternity services and ensuring families can access safe care close to home.

During a recent visit to the unit, Adam met with senior leaders including Professor Deirdre Fowler and saw first-hand the improvements made. These include upgraded facilities, new incubators, improved staff spaces and the creation of a dedicated bereavement room for families.

Adam Dance MP said:

“Since the temporary closure, I have been clear that local families must be able to access safe, high-quality maternity care close to home.

“I have raised this issue in Parliament, worked closely with the Trust, and brought national attention to the importance of these services by welcoming Ed Davey to Yeovil.

“It was reassuring to visit the unit and see the work that has been done to ensure services can reopen safely. The focus on safety and quality is absolutely right.

“I want to thank all the staff who have worked so hard to make this possible.”

The temporary closure was put in place in May 2025, with maternity and neonatal care transferred to other hospitals in the region while improvements were made.

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has since taken significant steps to address the issues identified, including recruiting additional paediatric consultants and neonatal staff, strengthening governance, and introducing new training and safety processes.

Adam added:

“This is a really important step for our community, but it must be the start of a sustainable future for these services.

“I will continue to engage with the Trust and monitor the situation closely to make sure services remain safe, accessible and resilient for everyone who relies on them.”

The reopening of the unit will allow families in Yeovil and surrounding areas to once again access maternity and neonatal services locally.