Important Update: Temporary Closure of Yeovil Maternity Services

Written By Lily Foster

As of 5:00 PM on Monday, 19th May 2024, Yeovil District Hospital has temporarily closed the following services:

  • Labour & Birth

  • Special Baby Care Unit (SCBU)

This closure is currently set for an initial period of six months and follows a recent inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), where the hospital was rated ‘Inadequate’.
You can read the full CQC report here: CQC Inspection Report

On 13th May 2025, the hospital released the following public statement:

Alternative Maternity Services

Families are now being redirected to the following hospitals:

  • Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, TA1 5DA
    CQC Rating: Inadequate (10.05.2024)

  • Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester, DT1 2JY
    CQC Rating: Requires Improvement (02.11.2023)

  • Royal United Hospital, Bath, BA1 3NG
    CQC Rating: Outstanding (27.03.2024)

For families based near Cheddar, please also consider:

  • Frome Birth Centre, BA11 2FH
    CQC Rating: Good (27.03.2024)

  • Bridgwater Community Hospital, TA6 4GU
    CQC Rating: Requires Improvement (10.05.2024)

  • Weston General Hospital, BS23 4TW
    CQC Rating: Good (01.03.2024)

  • Southmead Hospital, Bristol, BS10 5NB
    CQC Rating: Good (16.02.2024)

  • Bristol Royal Infirmary, BS2 8HW
    CQC Rating: Good (01.03.2024)

Or, if it’s the right choice for your family, you may wish to consider a homebirth.
A blog and social post exploring homebirth options in Somerset is coming soon!

Local Response

Adam Dance, Liberal Democrat MP for Yeovil, responded to the closure:

“I am extremely concerned by the decision to close Yeovil Maternity Unit — even if the Trust says it is temporary… Moving all services to Taunton, where staff have already raised concerns about not having enough capacity to manage their own patient load, is deeply troubling.”

In response to the increased demand, Musgrove Park Hospital has made several changes, including relocating ultrasound and antenatal clinic appointments to Parkside.
See map below for directions.

Emergency Contact

If you are experiencing a maternity emergency, please contact:

Somerset Maternity Emergency Triage
📞 01823 343 985

If you have any questions, concerns, or need help understanding your options, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m here to support you during this uncertain time.

Lily Foster
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