Rebecca Beesley
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Solicitor | Medical Negligence
Yeovil Maternity Unit Scandal: Coroner Highlights Remote Working Risks After Baby’s Death
As reported in the national press, a coroner has issued a Prevention of Future Deaths report highlighting the risks of NHS consultants working remotely and the impact this can have on patient safety.
Deborah Archer, Area Coroner for Devon, Plymouth & Torbay, found that communication failures between maternity staff and a consultant working from home contributed to delays in delivering a baby at Yeovil Maternity Unit, Somerset, in February 2022. Sadly, the baby died 13 days after her birth.
Concerns Over Reduced Foetal Movements
The baby’s mother attended the maternity unit reporting reduced foetal movements, a warning sign that can indicate serious problems and require urgent delivery.
A scan revealed the baby had suffered a brain injury, possibly due to an issue with the umbilical cord or placenta. However, the maternity ward was short-staffed, and staff did not communicate promptly with the remote-working obstetric consultant.
Remote Working and Communication Failures
The consultant did not consider attending the hospital because she was unaware of the staffing shortage.
The baby was delivered in very poor condition and transferred from Yeovil to Southmead Hospital in Bristol, then to a children’s hospice in Barnstaple, Devon, where she passed away at just 13 weeks old.
Coroner’s Findings
The coroner concluded that the baby died due to brain damage caused by an interruption in blood flow to the brain and “perinatal asphyxia” before delivery.
In this case, the injury was deemed to have occurred before the mother arrived at the hospital, and earlier delivery would not have changed the outcome. However, our specialist legal team has seen cases where delays in responding to reduced foetal movements have led to preventable stillbirths, infant deaths, and lifelong brain injuries.
Closure of Yeovil Maternity Unit
The “scandal-hit” maternity unit at Yeovil District Hospital closed temporarily in May 2025 and is expected to reopen in November 2025.
MP Adam Dance told the House of Commons that the closure was due to high staff sickness linked to a lack of support, toxic working culture, and bullying by management.
Nationwide Concerns Over Maternity Care
This case comes amid ongoing national investigations into NHS maternity services following high-profile scandals in Shrewsbury & Telford, East Kent, and Nottingham. Concerns have also been raised over maternity and neonatal units in Sussex, Leeds, Gloucester, and Essex.
If You’ve Suffered from Substandard Maternity Care
If you or your baby have suffered due to negligent maternity care, contact us on 0151 306 3694 to speak confidentially with our specialist team. We can assess your case and advise whether you may be able to bring a claim.
0151 306 3694 Online enquiry