Approximately 1 in 4 women will have a mental health problem during pregnancy and/or in the first year after birth and up to 4 in 1000 of these women will require an admission to a Mother and Baby Unit (MBU). Seren Lodge is new specialist MBU located in the heart of Chester and is the first of its kind supporting families across Cheshire, Merseyside and North Wales. It will provide compassionate care for pregnant and postnatal women, who are experiencing severe mental illness such as postnatal depression, psychosis or a relapse of an existing mental health condition.
Seren Lodge is a result of a partnership between Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP), Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, NHS England and NHS Wales. The project saw a run-down/disused training centre on an existing hospital car park transformed into a new specialist, eight bedded unit for perinatal mothers, babies and their families.
Clinical-Staff, advocates, Architects and designers worked in close collaboration with Experts-by-Experience to design the new unit, ensuring that the service reflected needs of women/families affected by severe perinatal mental health difficulties. Co-production was embedded from the earliest planning stages, with women who had previously used inpatient and community perinatal services contributing their insights, ideas, and feedback. The name ‘Seren’ translates to ‘star’ in Welsh and was chosen by Mums with lived experience of maternal mental ill-health to signify hope and positivity.
MBUs are specialist, in-patient units which offer psychiatric treatment specifically for mothers and birthing people in the later stages of pregnancy and at any point in their postnatal period up until their baby turns one. As such, this needed a bespoke, informed and innovative design solution. Some key facets.
* Clinical drivers around layout, adjacencies and observation. (Nursery location/separation anxiety, observation and visual connectivity to staff)
* Varying Neurodiversity conditions of Mothers informing Interior design.
* Pram walk opportunities/circulation
* Day/dining areas as congregation and support spaces
* Access to meaningful/therapeutic garden space
* Family visiting including overnight rooms/sibling play areas
* Importance of narrative/place making, right therapeutic environment.
* Control of environment/personalisation
* Balanced approach to risk (Cots/babies/families)
* Safeguarding/multi-agency access support
The project is a perfect example of what is possible within the constraints of an existing refurb with limited budget/space. The existing building underwent major remodelling works including a new roof and structural flooring installation, full reprovision of the MEP infrastructure and enhancements to its building envelope. Along with the newly installed fireproofing works will deliver the highest standard of safety for patients and staff. The result represents amazing VFM and the repurposing of a derelict structure into a modern, therapeutic and productive inpatient setting aligns with the NHS’s current sustainability/VFM agenda.
Seren Lodge demonstrates how genuine coproduction, imagination and a shared vision can deliver inspiring environments that enhance service quality. By valuing lived experience alongside professional knowledge, CWP have created a mother and baby unit grounded in empathy, safety, and recovery focused care.
