Maternity services returning to Yeovil District Hospital
- Healthwatch Somerset
- 7 hours ago
- 3 min read
From midday on Tuesday 21 April 2026, inpatient maternity services and the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) will reopen at Yeovil District Hospital.
This update is intended to help local people understand what is changing, why services were previously closed, and what support is available as services resume.
What is changing?
Inpatient maternity services will reopen at Yeovil District Hospital
The Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) will also reopen
Services will resume from midday on 21 April 2026
During the temporary closure, maternity and neonatal care has been provided at Dorset County Hospital and Musgrove Park Hospital.
Professor Deirdre Fowler, Chief Nurse and Chief Midwife, said:
“We’re very excited to welcome families back to Yeovil District Hospital. Our maternity and paediatric teams have been working extremely hard to make sure everything is ready.
I want to thank our colleagues at Dorset County Hospital and Musgrove Park Hospital for the care they provided while services were closed, and most of all I want to thank local families for their patience and understanding.”
Why were services closed?
In May 2025, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust (SNHSFT) temporarily closed inpatient maternity services and the SCBU at Yeovil District Hospital.
This decision was made because of serious concerns about the safety and sustainability of paediatric services at the hospital, identified through inspection and regulatory processes.
It is important to note:
The closure was due to paediatric service issues, not maternity care itself
Concerns related to staffing levels, leadership, governance and out‑of‑hours cover
The decision was described by the Trust as difficult but necessary for patient safety
What has been done since the closure?
The Trust reports that a range of actions have been taken to address the issues, including:
Creating a Somerset‑wide paediatric service, shared across Yeovil and Musgrove Park Hospital
Recruiting additional paediatric consultants, neonatal nurses, midwives, and maternity leaders
Improving senior clinical cover during evenings, nights, and weekends
Putting in place a new cross‑site leadership and management structure
Strengthening governance, safety oversight, and learning processes
Providing additional training to help staff maintain skills
Making physical improvements to the maternity unit, including security and fire safety upgrades
The Trust says these changes mean essential safety requirements are now in place.
Reassurance and safety
Senior leaders at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust have stated that they are confident the necessary frameworks, staffing and safety processes are now in place to allow services to reopen safely.
The Trust has said it will continue to monitor services closely as maternity care resumes at Yeovil.
Dr Melanie Iles, Chief Medical Officer, added:
“We said last October that we would reopen from 21 April if essential safety requirements were met. These are now in place and we are confident we can provide safe, high‑quality care.”
What this means for people who are pregnant now
If you are due to have your baby on or after 21 April 2026, you may be offered Yeovil District Hospital as an option for place of birth.
The Trust says:
Midwives and doctors are having one‑to‑one conversations with people about their choices
People should be supported to make an informed decision about where they feel most comfortable giving birth
No one should feel pressured into a particular choice.
Support, questions and feedback
If you are pregnant and have questions, concerns or would like more information, you can:
Speak to your community midwife
Contact the Trust’s Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
Seek independent support from the Somerset Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership
Visit the SNHSFT website for more information including frequently asked questions: Temporary closure of Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) and important changes to inpatient maternity services at Yeovil Hospital - Maternity
We recognise that reopening services after a closure can raise questions, concerns, and mixed feelings. Hearing from patients, families, and the wider community remains essential.
Share your anonymous feedback with us online or by calling us free on 0800 999 1286.
