Petition to save Yeovil Maternity Unit from closure hits 4,000
A PETITION to save Yeovil Maternity Unit from closure has hit more than 4,000 signatures.
The petition was set up by Nidal Singh on Change.org and nearly 1,200 signatures received in the first 15 hours.
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The closure of the Yeovil Maternity Unit and Special Care Baby Unit was decided by NHS Somerset Foundation Trust following a critical report from the Care Quality commission (CQC).
The CQC found that maternity services were 'inadequate', with not enough sufficient training of all staff and a lack of emergency equipment to safely care for babies.
In addition, the service 'did not always control infection risk well' and there were 'gaps in rotas' and not enough medical staff.
Following the temporary closure decision, from Monday, May 19 at 5pm, the care of pregnant women and birthing people will be transferred to give birth at Musgrove Park Hospital, or the maternity units at Dorchester or Bath.
Dr Melanie Iles, Chief Medical Officer for the trust, said: '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.'
NHS Somerset Foundation Trust has said it is 'working really hard to reopen after six months' but added that it recognises 'this will be challenging, and we must ensure that we can do so safely.'
Outpatient clinics for pregnant mothers such as obstetric and midwifery antenatal clinics, scanning, antenatal screening services and home births will continue at Yeovil Hospital as normal.
People with any concerns or questions can contact NHS Somerset on a dedicated helpline by calling 0300 303 6409 - available Monday to Friday, between 8am and 6pm.
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