Statement from Adam Dance MP on Yeovil Maternity Unit Closure

“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.”