Publish date: 12 June 2026
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (MWL) will take the lead in delivering community health services across West Lancashire from 1st July, working in partnership with Mersey Care to strengthen care closer to home.
The move marks a significant step forward for local services, bringing community care together under a more joined-up model to improve access, coordination and outcomes for patients.
MWL, which took over the running of Southport and Ormskirk hospitals three years ago, will now lead the delivery of a wide range of community services, supported by Mersey Care, who have extensive experience of providing community services across Liverpool, Sefton, Knowsley and St Helens.
The two trusts will now deliver specialist input including stroke and neuro rehabilitation, podiatry, speech and language therapy and falls prevention. Together, the services will support around 118,000 people across West Lancashire, including Ormskirk, Skelmersdale and surrounding areas, which covers predominantly rural communities, helping ensure patients receive timely, high-quality care in the right setting.