Maternity

Temporary changes

We have made the very difficult decision to temporarily close our Special Care Baby Unit at Yeovil Hospital from 5pm on Monday 19 May 2025, which means we are also unable to safely provide care during labour and birth at the Yeovil Maternity Unit for an initial period of six months. Please speak to your midwife or read further information – Advice for our service users and families at Yeovil Hospital from Monday 19 May – Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Welcome to maternity services

We are committed to providing personalised, kind, compassionate, safe maternity and neonatal care in Somerset.

Everyone will have the information they need to allow them to make decisions about their care and care will be centred around the woman/birthing person and their family.

We will support our maternity teams to work together, promoting an open and honest culture which encourages listening, learning and collaboration.

Our maternity services provide health services to women/birthing people, babies, and families throughout the whole pregnancy, during labour and birth, and after birth for up to six weeks.

Our care is provided in a number of locations, including our main Musgrove Park Hospital maternity unit, Yeovil Hospital maternity unit, community hubs around Somerset, and in your own home.

Our maternity team is made up of various clinicians including midwives, obstetricians, maternity support workers, trainee nursing assistants and anaesthetists. We also work closely with a range of other healthcare providers including GPs and health visitors.

Our Maternity Services

Our maternity services are located all over Somerset but our main maternity services are based at Musgrove Park Hospital and Yeovil Hospital.

Changes to where you receive your care at Musgrove Park Hospital

Antenatal clinic including scanning is now in Parkside – signage from the maternity unit is in place and colleagues on the maternity unit reception will be on hand to direct you.
Triage is to the left of the main maternity entrance – colleagues at reception will be on hand to direct you.
Willow ward is now providing postnatal care.
Fern ward is now providing antenatal including induction of labour.
There is no change to the Bracken Birth Centre or community services.

Changes to where you receive your care at Yeovil Hospital

Antenatal clinic and scanning will continue in the Women’s Hospital as usual.
There is no change to community care.
There will be no inpatient (staying in overnight) care including birth – your midwife will be in touch to discuss your options and support you to make choices.

If you become unwell or have any concerns about your heath, including your baby’s movements, please call for advice.

Please do not wait until the situation becomes serious, we want to be able to see you early and ensure you get the care and support you need.

The support line is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Maternity Triage: 01823 343985

For your pregnancy concerns a midwife may want to see you in our Emergency Maternity Triage, where you will be assessed within 15 minutes.

We advise the following:

The average waiting time after initial assessment is 2-4 hours
Bring a snack with you
Please attend without children
Bring an overnight bag

What our families say...

“Well what can we say, we will certainly never listen to the Jungle Book song the same again. What a pleasure it was to be under your care during labour. You provided a very calm setting and we are forever grateful to you for delivering our boy Oakley safely in to the world. A huge thank you for everything, you were the dream midwife and we wish you every success.”

– Mum of Oakley about midwife Sophie.