New specialist mental health hospital opens to Mums, babies and families across Cheshire

A new specialist, Mother and Baby mental health hospital has opened in Chester, just in time for Christmas.

The £7.5m single storey, eight bedded building is the first of its kind across Cheshire, Merseyside, and North Wales and will provide compassionate care for pregnant and postnatal women, who are experiencing severe mental ill-health.

The name ‘Seren Lodge’ was chosen by Mum’s who have experienced maternal mental ill-health to signify hope and positivity, as well as a nod to the cross-border partnership with Wales, as ‘seren’ translates to ‘star’ in Welsh.

Prof Bev Sapre, Clinical Director for Perinatal Services at Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said: 

“Seren Lodge, located in the heart of Chester, will support new and expectant mothers in a therapeutic environment which has been purposefully designed for people experiencing maternal mental health difficulties, such as post-natal depression, psychosis or a relapse of an existing mental health condition.

“It is estimated that one in four women experience mental health problems in pregnancy and during the 24 months after giving birth. The period around pregnancy and birth can be one of the most vulnerable times in a woman’s life, and timely, specialist support can make all the difference.

“Whilst only a small number of women will need admission to a specialist unit like Seren Lodge, I’m delighted that we’ll be able to offer this care closer to home, in addition to the thousands of families we see in the community every year.”

Working alongside women with lived experience of maternal mental ill-health has provided invaluable insight into how patient experience can be improved through design and thoughtful planning. Creating a calm and reassuring space has been central to the design, but also that small details can make a big difference. This includes details such as cushioned headboards to make night feeds more comfortable for Mums and dimmable lighting.

Nia, an Expert by Experience, explains what it has meant to be involved in the project:

“Six years ago, my son was born and went into special care. As a result of this I became very unwell and was admitted to Manchester Mother and Baby Unit.

“From this experience I have campaigned for a specialist hospital for the North Wales area since 2021. I have been lucky to be involved from the start of Seren Lodge, from the design of the building up until now. This means Mothers and their families will be able to access this service from North Wales, Cheshire and Merseyside.”

The opening was marked with a special celebration, including performances from members of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, who have a longstanding Music and Health partnership with the NHS. In working with Seren Lodge, musicians will focus on creating strong bonds between Mums and babies and use the magic of music to boost mood and self-esteem.

Alongside the Lord Mayor of Chester, Cllr Sherin Akhtar, the Singing Mamas joined the opening event to share their singing circle. The local community interest group have teamed up with Seren Lodge as part of their commitment to improving postnatal wellbeing through singing.

The unit is a result of a unique partnership between Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP), Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCHUB), Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, NHS England and NHS Wales. By providing care closer to home, the unit ensures that Mums can focus on recovery, whilst remaining connected to their loved ones during the festive season and beyond.

Teresa Owen, Executive Director of Allied Health Professionals and Health Science, at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said: 

“This week marks a significant step forward in bringing specialist perinatal mental health support closer to home for women in North Wales. Until now, women requiring admission to a Mother and Baby Unit have often had to travel long distances to services in England, including Manchester and Birmingham. For many families—particularly those living in the north-west of Wales—this has presented a considerable challenge at an already vulnerable time.”

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS (CWP) is a Foundation Trust that provides health and care services for local people in partnership with other organisations. Services include mental health and learning disabilities, community physical health and all-age disability care and are located across Cheshire and Wirral as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton, Liverpool, and Sefton. 

CWP is rated as being 'Outstanding' for caring by the Care Quality Commission 

Pictured at the opening celebration of Seren Lodge: L-R: Tim Welch, CEO of Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; Nia, Expert by Experience; Lord Mayor of Chester, Cllr Sherin Akhtar; Louise, Expert by Experience and Jocelyn, Expert by Experience.