Date published: 19 December 2025
A new specialist mother and baby mental health unit has opened to support pregnant and postnatal women experiencing severe mental ill health for residents from Cheshire, Merseyside, and North Wales, aiming to provides care closer to home in a therapeutic environment.
Seren Lodge, designed with input from women with lived experience, is based in Chester and is the results of a unique partnership between Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP), Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCHUB), Mersey Care , NHS England and NHS Wales.
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.
Prof Bev Sapre, Clinical Director for Perinatal Services at CWP, said: “Seren Lodge 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's 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."
The name ‘Seren Lodge’ was chosen by Mums 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.
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 and, by providing care closer to home, the unit ensures Mums can focus on recovery, while remaining connected to their loved ones during the festive season and beyond.
How to refer
The referral form for admissions to the Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) remains the same and can be accessed here.
Completed referrals should be sent to cwp
The contact number for Seren Lodge is 01244 393 460.
Seren Lodge will process and triage all referrals for women and birthing people from Cheshire, Wirral, Merseyside, and North Wales, even if Seren Lodge is not the individual’s preferred place of admission or if no beds are currently available.
In these circumstances, Seren Lodge will still support the referrer with the referral process, including onward referral to another MBU where appropriate.