Yesterday (13 May 2025) Somerset NHS Foundation Trust announced that that it cannot currently safely run the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) and provide care during labour and birth at the Yeovil Maternity Unit for an initial period of six months.
In reaction to this news, Councillor Graham Oakes, Lead Member for Public Health, Climate Change and Environment at Somerset Council, said:
Safety must come first, and we understand why Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has taken these actions. However, safe, local healthcare services are vital for our communities, and we are concerned about the impact of this closure on women, children and families in Yeovil and the surrounding areas.
We will be working closely with our partners to support the Trust to take steps so the unit can be safely reopened as quickly as possible.
Somerset Council’s Health Visiting service, Stop Smoking Service for pregnant women, and other Children’s Services are already working closely with the hospital to ensure that care of women, their babies and families is prioritised at this time.
