NHS agrees next steps for Women’s Hospital Services in Liverpool

At its meeting on 29 January 2026, the Board of NHS Cheshire and Merseyside (ICB) agreed to progress with a proposal which will improve the safety hospital gynaecology and maternity services in Liverpool in the medium term.

This proposal involves steps to increase resources at Liverpool Women’s Hospital on Crown Street, and to deliver a number of very high-risk births and complex gynaecology operations at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, rather than Liverpool Women’s Hospital.

Following the Board’s agreement to progress these plans, a full business case will now be developed, and a public engagement will take place ahead of a final decision being made. It is expected that the engagement will take place during summer 2026.  

At its meeting, the Board received an overview of an options process that took place during summer 2025, which concluded that the only options which would resolve the clinical risks for the vast majority of women would involve co-locating inpatient gynaecology and maternity services alongside other adult acute hospital services. However, these options would also have significant financial implications. Therefore, treating a small number of the most complex and high-risk cases at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital is seen as the only option which is deliverable in the medium term.

At this stage, the Board has not been asked to progress or discount any longer-term options, and it has confirmed a commitment to resolving the long-term sustainability of women’s services in Liverpool, and to engaging with NHS England about potential solutions to address this.

A recording of the Board Meeting is available here

Links to supporting Board Meeting Papers are available here 

People can also stay updated on how this work to improve gynaecology and maternity services in Liverpool continues to progress by joining our Virtual Reference Group.

NHS considers next steps for Women’s Hospital Services in Liverpool programme

At its meeting on 29 January 2026, the Board of NHS Cheshire and Merseyside will look at the findings of a process to develop potential options for the future of hospital gynaecology and maternity services in Liverpool.  

The Board will be asked to confirm support to progress a proposal for a range of service improvements to improve safety in the medium term, including increasing resources at Liverpool Women’s Hospital on Crown Street. It would also involve a number of very high-risk births and complex gynaecology operations taking place at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, rather than Liverpool Women’s Hospital.

Subject to the Board’s agreement, a full business case for this proposal will be developed, and public engagement would take place ahead of a final decision being made.     

Most gynaecology and maternity services in Liverpool happen at Liverpool Women’s Hospital, which means they are separate from other hospital services, creating issues and delays with care. NHS Cheshire and Merseyside set up the Women’s Hospital Services in Liverpool programme to find a long-term solution to improve quality and safety, giving patients the best experience, wherever they are being treated.

A case for change about these services was published during autumn 2024, at which point a six-week public engagement on improving hospital gynaecology and maternity services in Liverpool was launched. Then, during summer 2025, an options development and appraisal process took place, involving staff who work in these services, and those with lived experience as patients, carers, or family members.

This process – described in detail in the papers being presented to NHS Cheshire and Merseyside’s Board – concluded that the only options which would resolve the clinical risks for the vast majority of women would involve co-locating inpatient gynaecology and maternity services alongside other adult acute hospital services. However, these options would also have significant financial implications. Therefore, the option to treat a small number of the most complex and high-risk cases at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital is seen as the only one that is likely to be deliverable in the medium term.

The Board will therefore be asked for support to progress this plan – subject to public engagement and final decision-making – while also committing to resolving the long-term sustainability of women’s services in Liverpool, which would include engaging with NHS England about potential solutions to address this. No final decisions about services will be made at the meeting on 29 January – the discussion will focus on next steps.

Board meeting papers, including for the item on Women’s Hospital Services in Liverpool, will be published here: https://www.cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk/get-involved/upcoming-meetings-and-events/nhs-cheshire-and-merseyside-integrated-care-board-january-2026/

A further update will be issued following the Board meeting.