Maternity unit closed over safety gets reopening date

Yeovil's maternity and paediatric units will reopen next year

Maternity and paediatric units which were closed over safety fears have been given a reopening date, subject to meeting specific criteria.

The service at Yeovil District Hospital (YDH) was closed on 19 May for an intial period of six months, following a Care Quality Commission (CQC) report which rated the paediatric service inadequate.

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust said it would be reopening both units on 21 April 2026 and Peter Lewis, the chief executive said he hoped the update would provide "certainty" for staff and service users.

As a result of the closure the trust said more than 350 babies have been born elsewhere, with the majority being delivered at Dorset County Hospital.

The decision to close the units has been subject to protests

Mr Lewis said the plan to reopen the services is "complex", adding the trust would be working with colleagues in Dorset and other maternity and children's groups.

"We have done a huge amount of work to address concerns about the safety, quality and fragility of the paediatric service at YDH, which led to these temporary closures, and have more work to do," he said.

"This involves working with our new paediatric consultants, who join us from November 2025 through to March 2026, and our maternity colleagues, many of whom are working in maternity services at Musgrove Park Hospital and Dorset County Hospital, without destabilising those maternity services."

Liberal Democrat MP for Yeovil Adam Dance said he was "pleased" about the news.

"This is a positive first step after months of uncertainty for local families," he said.

"I'll continue to press the Trust for further updates and will hold them to account to make sure services return safely, as soon as possible."