Expectant parents in Street, Glastonbury, Wells and Shepton left scrambling as Yeovil maternity unit shuts down

Parents-to-be across mid-Somerset could be forced to travel miles to give birth after NHS bosses pulled the plug on Yeovil's maternity and baby care services—sparking outrage and warnings of serious risks to local families.
From 5pm on Monday 19 May, Yeovil Hospital will no longer offer inpatient maternity services or Special Care Baby Unit support. That means expectant mums from Street, Glastonbury, Wells and Shepton Mallet now face giving birth in Taunton, Dorchester or Bath instead.
The decision follows a damning inspection by the Care Quality Commission, which raised urgent safety concerns. But Yeovil MP Adam Dance has blasted NHS chiefs, accusing them of gutting a vital service and failing to guarantee it will ever reopen.
"This is deeply unsettling and unacceptable," said the Lib Dem MP. "Families in Yeovil—and across Somerset—deserve more than vague promises. They deserve answers, action and proper access to care. Right now, they're being thrown under the bus."
Dance said he had directly asked senior NHS figures for a commitment that services would return after six months—only to be met with silence.
And he warned that pushing maternity care to already overstretched hospitals was dangerous:
"Expecting Taunton and the others to absorb Yeovil's workload is not realistic. It puts more pressure on staff already at breaking point—and more risk on mums and babies."
NHS bosses have defended the closure, blaming staff shortages and rota gaps.
Dr Melanie Iles, chief medical officer for Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We have made this decision after careful consideration. High levels of staff sickness among senior paediatricians mean we can't guarantee safe care during labour or for newborns needing extra support."
Outpatient care like scans, check-ups and midwife appointments will continue at Yeovil Hospital. Home births are still on offer too—but only for those deemed low-risk.
The Trust says it's working with NHS Somerset and the Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership to support patients during the shutdown. A helpline has been set up on 0300 303 6409.
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