Mouldy maternity unit 'requires improvement'

Inspectors have upgraded the rating for a hospital's maternity services but asked its bosses to improve its safeguarding and leaky and mouldy clinical areas.

The provision at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton faced severe criticism after being rated inadequate by health inspectors in 2023.

The Care Quality Commission's (CQC) inspection in February found it had made improvements and recognised it had done so amid added pressure from the temporary closure of Yeovil maternity unit in 2025, but emphasised "important safety concerns remained".

Deirdre Fowler from Somerset NHS Foundation Trust said the team has done a "huge amount of work" and will continue to improve by acting on the CQC's findings.

"We have done a huge amount of work to improve our maternity services since the CQC inspection in November 2023," Fowler said.

"The inspection report also highlights the impact of the old, outdated and cramped maternity unit at Musgrove Park Hospital on mothers, babies, families and maternity colleagues.

"We have made as many improvements as possible to this building, but it is not fit for use in a modern NHS and needs to be replaced urgently."

The CQC acknowledged its staff were "compassionate, caring and went above and beyond" for their patients - "something the whole team should be proud of".

But the report outlined how the service remained in breach of regulations related to safe care and treatment, safeguarding, medicines management and environment.

Catherine Campbell, CQC deputy director of hospitals in Somerset, said: "While we saw clear improvements, some important safety concerns remain.

"Women were waiting up to ten hours for a medical review in triage and, in some cases, were leaving without a care plan in place because a doctor wasn't available to update it."

Campbell also said inspectors found some women were not routinely asked about domestic violence, "despite evidence that pregnancy is a particularly high-risk period".

She also added concerns were raised over water leaking into clinical areas and mould that had developed on the walls and ceilings of the postnatal ward.

The overall rating for Musgrove Park Hospital remains rated as good.

A damning report made by Baroness Valerie Amos in July named the site as the "most challenging" hospital estate.

The timetable for rebuilding it had been pushed back to 2033 despite the fact the building dates back to 1940s and leaks every time it rains.

This week during Prime Minister's Questions, the Liberal Democrat MP for Taunton and Wellington, Gideon Amos, raised concerns the money for renovations was needed sooner.

Andy Burnham promised "to look into" the situation.

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