WELLINGTON MP Gideon Amos has delivered a petition with 5,000 signatures to the government calling for the new maternity unit planned for Musgrove Park Hospital to be brought forward.

The petition was handed in by the MP personally to 10 Downing Street on Wednesday October 14.

The new maternity and paediatric unit has been included in the government’s funding programme but works aren’t scheduled to begin until 2033.

The Liberal Democrat MP launched the petition in August and is campaigning for an earlier start date.

He said: “The Prime Minister should be in no doubt about the urgency of the need for the new maternity unit at Musgrove - the National Maternity Review, no less, called it the ‘most challenging estate’ in the country.

“Andy Burnham said he knew from his visit 20 years ago that it needs renovation. He may have promised to come back to me, but he needs to do so with cash in hand.

“The new unit cannot wait until 2033 as currently scheduled and I have today presented over 5,000 reasons why the government need to get on with it.”

Mr Amos challenged Andy Burnham about the scheme at his first Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons in September.

The PM spoke of his personal experience at Musgrove Park, saying to the MP: “I remember well visiting in my Health Minister days. I did some work shadowing at the hospital, so I know how much in need it is of renovation. I will look into the issue.

“I think across the NHS this summer, staff have been working in unbearable conditions, same for patients as well. I know the Health Secretary has this high on her agenda, and I will come back to the Honourable Gentleman when I’ve had a chance to look at the latest status of that issue.”

The following week, the Prime Minister was challenged again - this time by leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey.

On this occasion Mr Burnham responded: “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.”

Inspectors carried out a visit of the facilities run by Somerset NHS Foundation Trust (SNFT) and upgraded its rating to ‘requires improvement’ after a warning notice had been issued to the hospital listing improvements needed.

Despite the service rating improving and the warning notice no longer being required, according to the CQC findings, the team discovered water leaking in clinical areas, mould on walls and ceilings of the postnatal ward with insufficient privacy on offer at the facilities.

Mr Amos says he has yet to receive any information from the task force meeting and has written to the Prime Minister this week.