NHS launches engagement on proposed changes to where high risk and complex maternity and gynaecology care happens in Liverpool.
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside (ICB) has launched a six week public engagement, running between 2 June - 14 July 2026, on where high risk and complex gynaecology and maternity care happens in Liverpool.
The NHS has been looking at how to improve the safety of hospital gynaecology and maternity services in Liverpool for a number of years.
Currently most of these services happen at Liverpool Women’s Hospital, on a separate site from other adult hospital services including critical care, emergency care and specialist surgical teams. This situation can cause significant problems in providing safe and timely care to women, particularly the most seriously ill patients.
To help address these issues, the NHS is proposing that in the future a small number of very high-risk births and complex gynaecology operations would take place at the Royal Liverpool Hospital, rather than at Liverpool Women’s Hospital.
The proposal would not solve all of the problems that come from having gynaecology and maternity services in a separate hospital to other adult services. This is because it’s not always possible to predict who will need specialist or critical care services that aren’t available at Liverpool Women’s Hospital in advance.
However, the changes would make care safer for women undergoing planned complex and high-risk procedures, and those with serious medical conditions that need to be managed alongside their maternity or gynaecology care.
Doctors estimate that if this proposal went ahead, it would impact on where care takes place for around 1% of all maternity and gynaecology cases treated in Liverpool, based on current patient figures.
This would include about 30 pregnant women per year who have serious medical conditions that need managing alongside their delivery, such as congenital heart disease, kidney disease requiring dialysis, and other women who are likely to need intensive care support when they have their baby.
It would also include about 75 to 100 women needing very specialist gynaecology care such as complex pelvic surgery, where several specialist surgeons need to be present during their operation and intensive care support is likely to be required afterwards.
In each instance, the clinical team caring for these women would have detailed discussions with them about their care options, ahead of putting this arrangement in place.
As part of this proposal, a new dedicated space would be created in the Royal Liverpool for gynaecology operations and high-risk births and neonatal support, designed to provide women and families with a safe and positive experience of care.
An enhanced care unit would also be developed at Liverpool Women’s, and more support from other specialist teams would also be provided on site at the hospital. In addition to this, an existing midwifery outreach service would be enhanced and expanded to provide extra support to pregnant women who are being cared for in other hospitals.
Some outpatient gynaecology and maternity clinics would also be provided at Aintree Hospital, to improve access for women from north Liverpool who might find it harder to travel into Liverpool city centre for appointments.
A summary booklet explaining the details of this proposal in more detail, and outlining the reasons why services need to change, is available to read and download at: www.gynaeandmaternityliverpool.nhs.uk
The proposal was developed during a series of workshops that took place last summer, which brought together a wide range of clinical and non-clinical staff who work in and alongside gynaecology and maternity services, as well as voluntary sector partners such as Healthwatch, and a Lived Experience Panel made up of patients and carers with direct experience of using these services.
If the proposed changes to improve gynaecology and maternity services went ahead, the NHS would need to invest around £5.5 million into the creation of new patient treatment spaces at both the Liverpool Women’s and Royal Liverpool hospital site, and a further £2.2 million annually into extra staffing and resources for these services.
The NHS is encouraging people to learn more and share their views on these proposed changes, between 2 June and 14 July 2026, by completing a short questionnaire at: www.gynaeandmaternityliverpool.nhs.uk
Those who would like help completing the questionnaire, need a paper copy or need the information in a different language or format, can request this by calling: 0151 702 4353 (Monday to Friday, between 8.30am and 4pm) or by emailing: engagement@cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk
There will also be three public information events taking place, which will be an opportunity for people to hear more about the plans, ask any questions they might have, and get help completing the questionnaire if needed. The events will take place as follows:
- Monday 15 June, 2.00pm at Merseyside Fire & Rescue Conference Centre, Bridle Road, Bootle, Sefton, L30 4YD
- Monday 29 June, 11.00am at The Old School House, St John's Road, Huyton, Knowsley, L36 0UX
- Tuesday 30 June, 5.00pm at Blair Bell Room, Liverpool Women's Hospital, Crown Street, Toxteth, Liverpool, L8 7SS
People can find further details and register to attend an event here: Registration link page
Some individual and small group conversations will also be held with women who have lived experience of receiving the very complex gynaecology and/or maternity care, which is the focus of this proposal.
Local community groups can also invite the NHS to attend one their existing meetings to share a short presentation, and answer questions people have about the proposed changes. Expressions of interest in this opportunity can be emailed to: engagement@cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk
Dr Fiona Lemmens, Executive Clinical Director for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside said: “This proposal is about investing extra staff and resources into improving our gynaecology and maternity services for women in Liverpool, and making care safer for those requiring very complex or high risk procedures.
“We know that it won’t solve every problem related to having gynaecology and maternity services on a separate site from other specialist adult services. However, it will make a big difference to some of our most seriously unwell patients, and we think it’s the right thing to do what we can to improve care now, as well as continuing to work on longer-term solutions.
“We really want to hear what our staff, patients and members of the wider community think about these proposed changes, and how they might impact on people’s care, so that we can take this feedback into consideration. That’s why we’re encouraging everyone to take part and share their views.”
All of the feedback received will be independently analysed and put into a summary report, which will be used to help shape the next steps.
The NHS also remains committed to finding a long-term solution that will improve quality, safety and sustainability of gynaecology and maternity services for everyone who uses them in Liverpool, and discussions about how to do this will continue as this smaller proposal moves forwards.
For more information, please visit: www.gynaeandmaternityliverpool.nhs.uk
