Baby unit at Yeovil Hospital closes due to safety concerns
It has been announced that Yeovil Hospital is closing its baby unit and halting maternity admissions.
The NHS trust responsible for running the hospital confirmed that it could not safely operate the Special Care Baby Unit or support births at the Yeovil Maternity Unit under current conditions.
All maternity care is therefore being transferred to Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton, Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester, or the Royal United Hospitals Bath.
The chief medical officer for the trust, explained:
“This is a very difficult decision that we have not taken lightly. We have made it after careful consideration, and a clinical assessment of those services, in discussion with NHS partners. I want to personally say sorry to local people who are affected by these temporary closures.”
The situation has been worsened by a shortage of senior paediatricians due to high levels of staff sickness, with the hospital calling on support from paediatricians at Musgrove Park Hospital.
Many maternity services will continue to be provided at Yeovil Hospital. This includes:
- outpatient antenatal clinics,
- midwifery appointments,
- ultrasound scans,
- antenatal screening, and
- home births.
The trust has assured patients that it is committed to providing safe, high quality and sustainable services for those who need them and has issued an apology to those affected by the changes.
Patients with concerns are advised to contact their midwife or the Neonatal Voices Partnership directly. NHS Somerset has also set up a helpline which can be contacted on 0300 303 6409.
Slee Blackwell partner, Oliver Thorne, who specialises in maternity negligence cases, and is currently advising patients in connection with the situation at Yeovil Hospital, expressed concern about the announcement:
“This is a worrying development. It comes about after an inspection of paediatric services at Yeovil Hospital by The Care Quality Commission, following which a Section 29A warning notice was issued. This was due to the fact that the paediatric care being provided at Yeovil Hospital was assessed as requiring significant improvement.”
Oliver is recommended by the Legal 500, the clients guide to the best law firms in the UK, and is also an AvMA (Action Against Medical Accidents) panel member. He offers a free consultation to patients who feel let down by NHS maternity and paediatric services and wish to understand their legal position.
You can contact him on 0333 888 0404 or email him at [email protected].
