Agenda item

To receive an update and presentation from the Chief Operating Officer, Dorset County Hospital, on the impact of the temporary closure of the Special Care Baby Unit and changes to inpatient maternity services at Yeovil District Hospital.

A report by the Deputy Director of Maternity and Perinatal Services, NHS Dorset, on maternity services available to residents across the whole Dorset area is to follow.

The Committee received information on maternity services at University Hospitals Dorset and Sailsbury Hospital. Sailsbury hospital’s maternity services had improved to a ‘Good’ rating following an improvement programme after it was rated as ‘requires improvement’. University Hospitals Dorset has demonstrated progress in its outcomes for its improvement journey, following a rating of ‘inadequate’ in 2023. Its maternity services had moved to its new BEACH building and the hospital managed to sustain achievement in its improvements whilst it moved maternity services to the new building.

The Committee then heard about the CQC improvement journey at Dorset County Hospital maternity services after it was rated as ‘requires improvement’ in 2023. The services employed a maternity improvement advisor and it and recent recruited a 10^th consultant, so it was now compliant with consultant presence. The maternity service’s leadership team and its audit process had been strengthened. The most recent CQC inspection took place in June 2025, and no immediate concerns had been raised, with the visit being more positive than the previous inspection.

The Committee then received an update on the temporary closure of the Special Care Baby Unit and inpatient maternity services at Yeovil District Hospital. The temporary closure was the result of a Section 29A warning notice issued by the CQC for Paediatric services, and subsequent improvement requirements that Yeovil District Hospital was unable to achieve in the timeframe. The update included a timeline of events, the impact it has had on other hospitals, and an outline of Dorset County Hospital’s operational response.

Members asked questions of the NHS representatives and discussed the item. The following points were raised:

·         Women who would have used Yeovil District Hospital could choose where they would want to continue their care, and it would transfer to that place.

·         A member queried whether the CQC allowed sufficient time for improvements to be made. It was assumed that Somerset Foundation Trust were not able to meet the expectations within the timescales.

·         A member asked how an increased number of births at other hospitals could be accommodated. Somerset Foundation Trust have been working closely with Bath hospital and increasing the capacity as Musgrove Park, Taunton. Some women may also choose to give birth at Salisbury hospital. The capacity for home births around the Yeovil area had been increased.

·         Dorset County Hospital would take approximately 20% of the births that would have happened at Yeovil. The hospital has considered different ways of working and a business case for increased staffing levels to accommodate the additional births.

·         The increase of visitors to the Dorset area over the summer was not a cause of significant concern for Dorset County Hospital and it would be business as usual. They were prepared for an increase in patients with a flexible workforce and estate, where rooms could be converted to create capacity.

·         Most hospitals use the same electronic record for maternity services and most women would have an app with their pregnancy information. This enabled hospitals to have the relevant information.

·         Members sought assurance that there would not be a crisis at Dorset County Hospital with an increased number of maternity service patients over the summer period. The Chief Operating Officer felt confident that this could be assured and they have done risk assessments for it.

·         Community settings, such as Blandford or Weymouth Community Hospitals, could be used for less complex maternity cases, such as providing scans or taking bloods.

·         Dorset County Hospital did require additional resources and staff from Yeovil hospital have been working in Dorchester. They were mindful that the legacy of the temporary closure could continue to have impacts on the hospital after the service in Yeovil reopened.

·         Travel times from Yeovil was not a significant area of concern for Dorset County Hospital, as they were similar times of travel from East Dorset to Dorchester or Bournemouth.

·         Members were impressed by the way Dorset County Hospital has responded to the temporary closure at Yeovil District Hospital.

The Committee wanted to see the service reopening within 6 months but was concerned about it not opening within 6 months. They were reassured by the measures that have been put in place for women. The Committee asked for an update in 6 months on how Dorset County Hospital was responding their CQC inspection outcomes and to the closure at Yeovil District Hospital.