First cross-border mother and baby mental health unit opens
A new £7.5 million specialist mother and baby mental health hospital has opened in Chester, providing support to women across Cheshire, Merseyside and North Wales.
The single-storey, eight-bedded unit, named Seren Lodge, will offer compassionate care to pregnant and postnatal women experiencing severe mental ill-health.
The name ‘Seren Lodge’ was chosen by mothers with lived experience of maternal mental ill-health to signify hope and positivity. The Welsh word ‘seren’ means ‘star’, reflecting the cross-border partnership between Wales and England.
Professor 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.”
Women with lived experience of maternal mental health difficulties were closely involved in the design of Seren Lodge, ensuring that the building reflects the needs of those it serves. Small details, such as cushioned headboards to make night feeds more comfortable and dimmable lighting to create a calm environment, were developed following this input.
Nia, an Expert by Experience, said: “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 official opening was marked with a celebration event attended by the Lord Mayor of Chester, Cllr Sherin Akhtar. Performances from members of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra formed part of the event, highlighting the orchestra’s ongoing partnership with the NHS to support health and wellbeing through music.
Local group Singing Mamas also took part, sharing their singing circle as part of their ongoing work to improve postnatal wellbeing through music.
Seren Lodge is the result of a partnership between Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP), Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB), Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, NHS England and NHS Wales.
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.”
By providing care closer to home, the new unit will allow mothers to focus on recovery while staying connected with their loved ones throughout the festive season and beyond.
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