Rat sighting temporarily closes Somerset birthing centre
A precautionary closure lead to a thorough inspection and deep clean
It's emerged a rat sighting at Somerset's Bracken Birthing Centre resulted in a temporary closure as precautionary measures were implemented.
The incident led to the unit being shut down while remedial work was undertaken.
According to a Somerset NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson, additional control measures were immediately put in place.
The centre's estates and pest control teams conducted a comprehensive inspection to ensure the area was secure.
This included sealing potential entry points for pests and a deep clean of the unit.
Despite the closure, women and birthing people continued to receive care in other maternity areas within the unit.
The Birthing Centre, part of Musgrove Park Hospital, reopened after 48 hours once there were assurances of no further rat presence.
The unaffected status of other maternity areas was confirmed by the spokesperson.
Bracken Birthing Centre is a small midwifery-led unit catering primarily to low-risk births with its three birthing rooms.