Somerset MPs Call for Urgent Investment in Musgrove Park Maternity Services
Taunton and Yeovil representatives highlight pressures on staff and mothers, pushing for solutions well before the planned 2033 rebuild.
Last updated 18th Aug 2025
Two Somerset MPs have pledged to continue fighting for better maternity services in the county after visiting the overstretched unit at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton.
Gideon Amos (Taunton and Wellington) and Adam Dance (Yeovil) met with staff to see first-hand the serious challenges the unit faces. While a new maternity and children’s unit at Musgrove Park has been included in the government’s funding programme, construction isn’t scheduled to begin until 2033.
The closure of Yeovil Hospital’s maternity and special care baby unit has increased the pressure on Musgrove, leaving staff working in outdated and often unsuitable conditions.
Mr Amos said: “It was brilliant to meet such dedicated and hard-working midwives and medics, but they shouldn’t have to contend with 30° heat in summer or rain coming into the building in winter. That’s not acceptable for local mums and babies or for our NHS staff.
“Getting Musgrove Park’s new maternity and children’s unit into the top tiers of UK hospital projects was a major achievement, but the start date of 2033 is far too late. The government must use its upcoming budget to provide urgent funding to tackle the outdated condition of Musgrove’s maternity buildings – originally built as temporary accommodation for the US Army in the 1940s.
“I’m also fully backing Adam’s work to reopen maternity services at Yeovil – that’s the right solution for everyone involved. Restoring our NHS to deliver better for patients has been my priority since the General Election.”
Mr Dance added: “It was important to see just how stretched the maternity team at Musgrove Park Hospital is. The closure of Yeovil’s unit has had a huge impact, and staff are doing an incredible job under difficult circumstances.
“But this situation is not sustainable. We cannot expect mothers, babies, and staff to keep bearing the brunt of government delays. Somerset needs investment now – not in 2033. I’ll continue pressing for a clear plan to restore safe, accessible maternity care across our county.”