Yeovil Hospital Maternity Services Under Spotlight as MP Calls for Clear Reopening Plan
Following national investigation into maternity failings, Adam Dance urges timeline for safe reopening amid months of uncertainty
Yeovil MP Adam Dance has called for urgent clarity on the future of maternity services at Yeovil District Hospital, which has been closed for months. Families have been forced to rely on smaller, overstretched facilities at Musgrove Hospital while the reopening date remains unknown.
The closure comes as Yeovil Hospital is included in a national investigation into maternity and neonatal care failings. The review, led by Baroness Amos, is examining systemic issues across 14 NHS trusts in England, with bereaved families placed at the heart of the work. Health Secretary Wes Streeting described the courage of families coming forward as “extraordinary” and said their experiences would help prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Speaking to the press, Adam Dance said: “I’ve heard from many families over the last six months. They want to know why the unit shut, and most importantly, when it will reopen safely.” He added: “Staff at the hospital do an amazing job. They are just under-supported, under-staffed and underfunded.”
The MP has been actively raising the issue in Parliament, including during a PMQ and an adjournment debate, and has written to the Health Minister: “I’m really pleased the Secretary of State has listened and included Yeovil in this national review. Our aim is to make sure the hospital is the best possible place for mums giving birth.”
Dance emphasised the need for a clear timeline for reopening: “Without a clear timeline, staff may start looking for work elsewhere. We need to keep the dedicated midwives and paediatricians in place. Families also need certainty so they can plan where to have their baby.”
On what success would look like, he said: “Success for me would be the maternity unit reopening safely, with the right levels of staff, and the teams that were doing such a great job back where they belong.” He added that the Yeovil unit is “in a far better state than Musgrove, so reopening it will benefit mums who are currently having to travel.”
Dance also thanked local residents for their support: “Over the last six months, the community has really pulled together, signing petitions, attending rallies, and engaging on this issue. Their involvement has made a real difference.”