End the Musgrove Park maternity crisis

Please support my campaign and sign the petition to bring forward the new maternity and paediatric unit project at Musgrove Park Hospital and end the maternity crisis.

The current buildings were put up for the United States Army as a temporary measure during the Second World War and never replaced.

The recent publication of the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation laid bare the poor conditions including leaking roofs and inadequate temperature control.

Musgrove Park's maternity buildings came out the worst in the region, if not the country. Only recently, a birthing centre there was closed because of rats.

Trying to improve services in buildings which are patently not fit for purpose is seriously holding back progress towards giving mums and babies the support they need.

I have been informed that births at North Devon District Hospital are being suspended and that we may see some patients from that area using Musgrove Park Hospital.

This comes following Yeovil’s maternity ward being closed for a year before it was thankfully reopened in April.

All this points towards a crisis in maternity, in recruitment, retention, and the facilities in which mothers and babies are cared for.

It is saddening to receive so many emails and messages from both staff and patients who are worried about the maternity crisis.

This is not about blaming anyone. This is about demanding action from our new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, and new Health Secretary Yvette Cooper.

Staff deserve better, mothers and babies deserve better.