A new specialist mother and baby mental health hospital has opened in Chester, expanding access to inpatient care for families across Cheshire, Merseyside and North Wales.
The £7.5 million, single-storey facility, known as Seren Lodge, has eight beds and is designed to support pregnant and postnatal women experiencing severe mental ill-health. It is the first specialist unit of its kind serving the three regions.
Seren Lodge will provide inpatient care for conditions including postnatal depression, psychosis and relapse of existing mental health disorders, allowing mothers to receive treatment while staying with their babies.
The hospital’s name was chosen by mothers with lived experience of maternal mental ill-health. “Seren,” meaning “star” in Welsh, reflects hope, positivity and the cross-border partnership with Wales.
Professor Bev Sapre, Clinical Director for Perinatal Services at Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said the unit had been purpose-built to meet the needs of women at a particularly vulnerable time.
“One in four women experience mental health problems during pregnancy or in the two years after birth,” she said. “While only a small number will need admission to a specialist unit, having this care closer to home can make a significant difference for women and their families.”
Women with lived experience were closely involved in the design of the building. The focus was on creating a calm, reassuring environment, with features such as cushioned headboards to support night feeds and dimmable lighting to promote rest.
Nia, an expert by experience who was involved in the project from its early stages, said the unit would transform access to care for families in the region.
“After my own experience of being admitted to a mother and baby unit in Manchester, I campaigned for a specialist hospital for North Wales,” she said. “Seren Lodge means mothers and families across North Wales, Cheshire and Merseyside can now access care closer to home.”
The opening was marked by a celebration featuring musicians from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, part of a long-standing Music and Health partnership with the NHS. The programme will focus on strengthening bonds between mothers and babies while supporting emotional wellbeing.
The Singing Mamas, a local community interest group, also took part in the event, reflecting their collaboration with the unit to promote postnatal wellbeing through singing.
Seren Lodge is the result of a partnership between Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, 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 the unit addressed a long-standing gap in services.
“Women in North Wales have often had to travel long distances to England for inpatient perinatal mental health care,” she said. “This has been a major challenge for families at an already difficult time.”
By offering specialist care locally, the new unit aims to support recovery while helping mothers remain connected to their families during treatment.
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