Liverpool NHS maternity changes: who could be affected

HW Hannah Wilkinson 2026-06-02 15:36 4 min read

By the demoduck.co.uk health desk. This report is based on details published through Liverpool Express and NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB.

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB has opened a six-week public engagement on proposed changes to where some high-risk maternity care and complex gynaecology care would take place in Liverpool.

The engagement runs from 2 June to 14 July 2026. Patients, families, staff and community groups are being asked to comment before any next steps are shaped.

The proposal does not move all maternity or gynaecology services from Liverpool Women’s Hospital. NHS doctors estimate it would affect around 1% of maternity and gynaecology cases currently treated in Liverpool, focused on patients most likely to need critical care, emergency adult support or several specialist surgical teams during or after treatment.

A small group of complex cases could move to Royal Liverpool

Under the proposal, a small number of very high-risk births and complex gynaecology operations would happen at the Royal Liverpool Hospital instead of Liverpool Women’s Hospital.

The cases expected to be affected include around 30 pregnant women each year with serious medical conditions that need to be managed alongside delivery. Examples given by the NHS include congenital heart disease, kidney disease requiring dialysis, and situations where intensive care support is likely to be needed when a baby is born.

The plan would also cover about 75 to 100 women a year needing very specialist gynaecology care, such as complex pelvic surgery where several specialist surgeons may need to be present and intensive care support is likely after the operation.

In each case, the NHS says clinical teams would have detailed discussions with women about their care options before any arrangement was put in place.

Why safety concerns are driving the proposal

Most hospital gynaecology and maternity services in Liverpool currently take place at Liverpool Women’s Hospital, which is on a separate site from adult critical care, emergency care and specialist surgical teams.

The NHS says that separation can create problems when women become seriously unwell or need urgent support from adult services that are not available on the Liverpool Women’s Hospital site.

The proposed change is designed to make planned complex and high-risk care safer for women whose medical needs can be identified in advance. It would not remove every risk linked to the current split-site arrangement, because not every patient who later needs specialist adult care can be predicted beforehand.

Patient spaces, staffing and access changes in the plan

If the proposal goes ahead, a dedicated space would be created at the Royal Liverpool Hospital for gynaecology operations, high-risk births and neonatal support.

Liverpool Women’s Hospital would also receive an enhanced care unit, with more support from specialist teams provided on site. The NHS says an existing midwifery outreach service would be expanded to support pregnant women being cared for in other hospitals.

Some outpatient gynaecology and maternity clinics would also be provided at Aintree Hospital. That change is aimed at improving gynaecology access for women from north Liverpool who may find it harder to travel into the city centre for appointments.

The plan would require around £5.5 million for new patient treatment spaces at Liverpool Women’s Hospital and the Royal Liverpool Hospital, plus about £2.2 million a year for extra staffing and service resources.

Engagement dates, events and contact details

Three public information events are planned for people who want to hear more, ask questions or get support completing the questionnaire.

• Monday 15 June, 2.00pm: Merseyside Fire & Rescue Conference Centre, Bridle Road, Bootle, Sefton, L30 4YD.
• Monday 29 June, 11.00am: The Old School House, St John’s Road, Huyton, Knowsley, L36 0UX.
• Tuesday 30 June, 5.00pm: Blair Bell Room, Liverpool Women’s Hospital, Crown Street, Toxteth, Liverpool, L8 7SS.

People can also request a paper copy of the questionnaire, help completing it, or information in another language or format by phone or email.

How Liverpool patients and community groups can respond

The NHS is asking people to read the summary booklet and complete the short questionnaire during the engagement period. Community groups can also ask the NHS to attend an existing meeting to give a short presentation and answer questions about the proposed changes.

Some individual and small group conversations will be held with women who have lived experience of the very complex gynaecology or maternity care covered by the proposal.

Dr Fiona Lemmens, Executive Clinical Director for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, said the proposal is about investing extra staff and resources into improving gynaecology and maternity services for women in Liverpool, and making care safer for those requiring very complex or high-risk procedures.

She said the plan would not solve every issue linked to having gynaecology and maternity services on a separate site from other specialist adult services, but said the NHS wanted to hear from staff, patients and the wider community so feedback can be considered before next steps are set.

Source: Liverpool City Council

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This article was prepared from the published public engagement notice and checked against the stated dates, affected patient groups and contact routes.

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• Confirmed the public engagement window as 2 June to 14 July 2026.
• Checked that the proposal applies to around 1% of maternity and gynaecology cases, not all...
• Matched the named hospitals, event dates, investment figures and contact details to the so...

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Liverpool Express

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Liverpool

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2026-06-02 15:36

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Fiona Lemmens

#Aintree Hospital clinics#Liverpool NHS engagement#Liverpool Women's Hospital#Royal Liverpool Hospital

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