Hundreds of people protest closure of Yeovil maternity unit
A petition has now reached over 5,000 signatures
Last updated 20th May 2025
More than 200 people gathered outside the Yeovil District Hospital to protest against the temporary closure of its birthing and special baby care unit.
Many of these protestors were parents who have either had children at the unit or are expecting to.
Yeovil's Local MP says he's 'concerned' about the impact the temporary closure of the maternity unit at Yeovil District Hospital is going to have.
It's shutting from this evening (19 May) because of safety concerns raised by inspectors, along with staff shortages.
Patients are being referred to other Somerset hospitals - or those in Dorset or Bath - with the decision being something the Trust running the ward say they've not taken lightly.
Two petitions have been launched in the light of this news, with many coming out in support of the Liberal Democrat's calls for a 'clear and public timeline' as to when it will reopen - which you can check out here.
Read more: Yeovil MP launches petition against maternity ward closure
'A great service and local to the population'
Whilst more than 5,000 people have put their name down to a community-led petition.
The calls, led by Nidal Shah, say: "Yeovil Maternity Unit was a great service and local to the population.
"After the closure, patients will have longer journeys to get to neighbouring maternity services putting mums and babies at risk.
"Yeovil maternity services must be saved.
"We must appoint more neonatal doctors and get help from neonatal doctors at Musgrove park in the mean time.
"They say it will be closed for 6 months, but in many cases such as Okehampton Maternity Services, they never reopen.
"We can’t let that happen to Yeovil Maternity Services."
The temporary closure
Last week, the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust announced (13th May) that the service will temporarily close, following safety concerns raised by the Care Quality Commission.
Bosses at the Trust say their midwifery team have contacted all women and birthing people who have registered their care with them, to discuss what the changes mean and their choices for maternity care.
However, this has caused real concerns for parents to be in Yeovil and the surrounding areas with families needing to travel to Taunton, Bath or Dorchester for births in the interim period.
Local MP Adam Dance is calling for the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust to:
• Provide a clear and publicly communicated timeline for the reopening of Yeovil Hospital’s maternity unit
• Implement immediate measures to address staffing shortages and governance issues within the hospital’s paediatric services
• Ensure the safety and quality of maternity services upon reopening
• Maintain transparent communication with the community regarding the status and progress of the maternity unit
Mr Dance also raised the issue at Prime Minister’s Questions last week (14th May), demanding the Government seek to intervene in this decision.
Somerset Council reaction
The local council has released a statement about the closure of the Yeovil unit, saying it's due to be for an initial period of six months.
Councillor Graham Oakes, Lead Member for Public Health, Climate Change and Environment at Somerset Council, said:
“Safety must come first, and we understand why Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has taken these actions.
However, safe, local healthcare services are vital for our communities, and we are concerned about the impact of this closure on women, children and families in Yeovil and the surrounding areas.
“We will be working closely with our partners to support the Trust to take steps so the unit can be safely reopened as quickly as possible.
“Somerset Council’s Health Visiting service, Stop Smoking Service for pregnant women, and other Children’s Services are already working closely with the hospital to ensure that care of women, their babies and families is prioritised at this time.”
There's plenty of advice on what to do if you are impacted by the closure - in this full article on the NHS Trust's website.