PMQs CHALLENGE: Ed & Gideon press PM on Musgrove maternity unit

Prime Minister Andy Burnham was quizzed on the long-awaited maternity unit at Taunton's Musgrove Park Hospital by the Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Ed Davey, in Parliament on Wednesday.

The unit has been included in the government’s funding programme – but isn’t scheduled to happen until 2033.

More than 3,000 people have signed a petition, launched by Taunton and Wellington MP, Gideon Amos, for the scheme to be brought forward.

Sir Ed raised the issue during Prime Minister’s Questions, saying: “Last week, I asked about North Devon's maternity unit, which is still closed. This week, I have to raise Musgrove Park Hospital, where his Labour colleague Baroness Amos found the most challenging maternity estate in the whole country. She described leaking roofs, a ceiling propped up by poles and room temperatures that put newborn babies at risk.

“Mr Speaker, no mother should have to give birth in such circumstances. So, does the Prime Minister agree that Musgrove Park can't wait until 2033 for work to start on a new maternity unit? Will he offer a meeting to local MPs so we can move it forward? And will he make fixing the maternity scandal across our country a top priority of his government?”

Mr Burnham said Musgrove Park was a hospital he knew – he visited back in 2006 when he was a Health Minister.

“It points to a systemic challenge facing maternity services across the country, as various reviews have said.

“It is why my Right Honourable friend, the Health Secretary, will next week be chairing a meeting of the maternity task force in the Department of Health, and we will make sure all of the issues being raised, including at the hospitals mentioned, are looked at in detail.”

Sir Ed replied: “I thank the Prime Minister for that answer. Britain should be the safest country in the world to have a baby. We will keep raising this issue until it is.”

After joining Sir Ed on the front bench for yesterday’s session, Gideon said: “I am delighted Sir Ed prioritised highlighting Musgrove Park Hospital in PMQs.

“It’s good that Andy Burnham has again agreed to look at the challenge of our outdated maternity buildings, but we need real action not words. I will be asking him again for that meeting and challenging the Health Secretary to see for herself the need to urgently bring this project forward.

“Some future date isn’t good enough for people in Taunton and Wellington.”