Community Health Partnerships (CHP) is investing £500,000 to provide an expanded midwifery-led maternity unit at Lowe House Primary Care Resource Centre (PCRC) in St Helens, Merseyside.

Lowe House was built in 2010 under the NHS LIFT Programme that brings together Community Health Partnerships as key tenant and Renova (LIFTCo), an investor in 17 community healthcare facilities in the North West.

Located near the town centre, the three-storey facility already provides a range of health and social care services under one roof.

The latest remodelling will expand local maternity services, offering increased options for women across St Helens and reducing the need to visit a hospital site.

CHP provided £500,000 capital investment to reconfigure and transform underused space in building to create an expanded service.

Work included:

• Over 300sq m of additional space, comprising 13 rooms, a new ultrasound room, and provisions for changing and showering
• Additional services and clinics including stop smoking, weight management, perinatal mental health support, and infant feeding sessions

The maternity unit will allow all women deemed to be ‘low risk’ to have their antenatal appointments and scans in a community setting.

The unit also offers a better experience for NHS staff, providing a permanent base for the community midwifery team from Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in a modern, core, accessible neighbourhood health centre.

“By investing £500,000, we’ve enabled families to access vital maternity services closer to home, reducing travel, and enhancing their overall experience,” said Jeanette Leach, regional director of the North West at CHP.

“We are proud to support the continuing evolution of Lowe House into a thriving community health hub and remain committed to ensuring this estate is fully utilised by key partners in the local health and care system.”

Amy Lawrence, Renova general manager, added: “As a key partner to the NHS, Renova has played a vital role in community health in the North West over the last 20 years, but we are always looking for new and better ways to support residents.

“The maternity unit at Lowe House offers a huge boost to local families and NHS staff, bringing together a range of vital maternity services under one roof in the heart of the community, and underlining the significant benefits of investing in high-quality neighbourhood health centres.”

The maternity unit at Lowe House Health Centre was funded and delivered through close working between a range of partners including Community Health Partnerships, Renova, Cheshire and Merseyside Women’s and Children’s Services Partnership, and Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.