IVF options slashed for couples in £1.3m money-saving plan

PLUS: Southport Pier SAVED and tributes paid to much loved teacher

Jun 15, 2025

∙ Paid

“This is exactly what everyone in Southport wanted and deserve” - Silcock Leisure Group Operations Manager Serena Silcock-Prince on the news that Southport Pier will be saved.

Hello and welcome to the 44th edition of The Southport Lead.

It’s been a quite a week for Southport. On Tuesday, we saw the announcement of a £10m transformation of Town Hall Gardens which will be redesigned as a community space in the memory of Alice, Bebe and Elsie.

The following day came the news that so many had waited and hoped for - that the Government will provide the money to repair and reopen Southport Pier. The creation of a Growth Mission Fund will make this possible.

Back after we launched The Southport Lead in January, we started a petition calling for the reopening of the pier and we’ve kept an eye on developments since then. Like so many others, we’re excited to see this crucial landmark will be brought back into use. Read on for more details of what happens next and plenty of reaction to the news.

Before that though, we focus on something very different - plans to reduce the amount of NHS-funded IVF treatment offered to patients in Southport and Formby. A consulatation on that proposal is now under way so and details on how to have your say are below.

We’ve also got tributes to a much loved primary school teacher who died at the age of just 49 and paying subscribers can access Andrew Brown’s What’s On guide to the week ahead.

Move for “equal access” to IVF treatment cuts support for Southport couples

By Jamie Lopez

Couples trying to conceive in Southport will only be offered one round of free IVF in new proposals - a reduction from the current three.

The change is part of a cost-cutting drive which will save £1.3m but is being described by the NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board (ICB) as standardising the number across the different areas which operate within it.

In its publicity of a consultation on the scheme - which runs until July 15 - it says its changes “mean that everyone would get equal access to treatment in our area” but acknowledges that “we are also proposing to make some changes for financial reasons”.

However, its recommendation of only offering one round of NHS-funded treatment is currently only offered at one of the 10 locations, with four offering two rounds and three available in five, including Southport & Formby.

Recommendations from National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) state that women under the age of 40 should be offered three rounds of IVF.

Fertility Network UK, a charity offering free and impartial support, advice, information and understanding for anyone affected by fertility issues, has lobbied for an end to the postcode lottery by encouraging all areas to offer three rounds.

According to a report explaining the proposals, providing three funded rounds of IVF to all areas covered by the ICB would result in an annual spend of £5.78m, an increase of £734k.

Reducing it to one round in all areas would instead leave a £3.728m spend and result in savings of £1.315m each year.

Should the initial round of IVF not work, instead of being offered two further rounds patients in Southport and Formby would face having to find thousands of pounds to cover the costs of further attempts.

Another change being proposed are stricter rules on smoking. Currently in Merseyside, IVF eligibility is only affected by whether the woman to receive treatment smokes but this to be changed to include their partner. It will also include e-cigarettes and vapes.

Once the consultation closes, the findings will be analysed and compiled into a report. This will be presented to the Board of NHS Cheshire and Merseyside for a final decision, likely in late summer or early autumn 2025.

Further information will then be shared about the outcome, and what this means for people who use fertility services. Until then, the existing policies will still apply and people can continue to access fertility treatment just as they do now.

Dr Fiona Lemmens, Deputy Medical Director for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside said: “The NHS is currently facing serious financial challenges, and this means we’re having to make some very difficult decisions about how we spend our local health budget.

“We know that access to fertility treatment is a sensitive issue, but we believe that moving to a single IVF cycle is the best way to ensure that we can continue to provide this treatment for our population.

“We have drafted the new policy based on what we feel balances local need and affordability, but before we finalise it, we are committed to listening to feedback from our communities.

“We want to encourage people to share their views by taking part in the public consultation, to tell us how these changes might affect them, and what they think might help to minimise any negative impact.”

You can respond to the consultation using this link.

Southport Pier announcement restores pride in town

Southport isn’t often mentioned in Parliament and there was cause for celebration when it was on Wednesday.

During the Budget announcement, chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the news that many had waited an awfully long time for - that the government would fund the reopening of the pier.

“We will establish a growth mission fund to expedite local projects that are important for growth - projects such as Southport Pier, an iconic symbol of coastal heritage that has stood empty since 2022,” Reeves said.

When the landmark first closed on an initial temporary basis, Sefton Council had committed £2m to replacing its wooden beams. Further inspections found the iron foundations were in a dire state and a new estimate of £13m left it with a perilous future. The Southport Lead understands that the latest figure is north of £15m.

Earlier this year, we launched our campaign to Save Southport Pier and there has been tireless work going on behind the scenes from politicians, residents, business owners and tourism officials to find a way of funding the necessary works.

What happens next?

Later this summer, the Government will outline the full details of its Growth Mission Fund, which will include the exact criteria of how particular projects can qualify. However, it is understood that whatever these rules will be, Southport Pier will be eligible.

Once that announcement is made, there will be a clearer understanding of how much money will be provided, when construction work can begin, how long it will take and ultimately when the pier will reopen to the public.

Sefton Council has previously said the most efficient way to restore the pier will be to take it down in section to be repaired off site and returned to its place. Reacting to the news, a spokesperson said: “As a council we have said we are ready to go as soon as funding is secured and we look forward to finding out more detail about the Growth Mission Fund in due course.”

What has the reaction been?

This is about more than just rebuilding a pier – it’s about restoring pride, boosting the local economy, and welcoming visitors back to Southport’s seafront.
This is the beginning of something bigger – restoring Southport’s national treasure, putting us back on the map for holiday makers - Patrick Hurley, Southport MP

We are absolutely thrilled! It’s just the best news we could have wished for.It is an amazing boost for all the families and all the businesses here in Southport and across the Liverpool City Region.
It’s wonderful news. Everyone in Southport will be celebrating! We’re all so elated. This is exactly what everyone in Southport wanted and deserved - Silcock Leisure Group Operations Manager Serena Silcock-Prince

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the public of Southport and surrounding areas for really rallying behind us in recent months. Your support has shown just how important the pier is for the town, for the mental and physical health of so many, and for British heritage.
Additionally, we are deeply grateful for all the help from local MPs over the last two years, particularly Patrick Hurley MP, for pushing the coastal growth fund and highlighting our plight in parliament. Here’s hoping for a concrete plan moving forward and a speedy reopening - The Jamieson Family, concessionaire of Southport Pier

These developments mark another important step in the wider regeneration of Southport, enhancing the appeal of the entire seafront and complementing the ongoing efforts of businesses like ours that are committed to drawing new visitors and creating memorable experiences for families - Norman Wallis, Adventure Coast Southport owner

“She gave so much of herself to our school community”

By Elliot Jessett

Tributes have been paid to a beloved teacher who ‘guided the hearts and calmed the fears’ of everyone who met her. Caroline Williams worked at Churchtown Primary school in Southport, but sadly passed away last month at just 49-years-old.

In a published notice to Caroline accompanied with details of funeral arrangements, she was described as a wonderful mum to Lilymay and Meredith and loving wife to husband Andy.

It continued: “She was also a Primary School teacher who was loved and respected by her colleagues/friends and she touched the lives of so many children during her 26 years as a classroom teacher.

“We are all just heartbroken and cannot imagine our lives without her. Rest in peace dear Caroline. We are all needing butterfly hugs now.”

Mrs Williams colleagues also paid tribute to a ‘compassionate and dedicated’ teacher whose untimely death has left staff and pupils ‘heartbroken’.

In a letter to parents and carers about Caroline’s passing, headteacher Ms Jinnie Payne wrote: “It is with great sadness that I write to let you know that our much-loved colleague and friend, Caroline Williams, passed away peacefully on Monday 26th May, following an 18-month battle with a brain tumour.

“Caroline was a dedicated teacher who had been part of Churchtown Primary School since 1999. Over the past 25 years, she touched the lives of countless children and families, as well as the staff who had the privilege of working alongside her. Her commitment to education, her belief in every child, and her unwavering standards made her a truly remarkable teacher.

“While she set the bar high, she always did so with warmth, humour, and a sharp wit that kept us all smiling. She had a dry sense of humour and a famously high standard for language – banning the word ‘nice’ from her classroom because it wasn’t descriptive enough!

“Caroline encouraged children to reach for words that showed real thought and feeling – something that sums her up rather perfectly. She taught with compassion and conviction, and she gave so much of herself to our school community.”

Caroline’s fellow teachers also paid moving personal tributes to a beloved friend and much-respected colleague. Mrs Bowers said: “She quietly made people feel noticed, loved and valued. She went out of her way to comfort people when they were unhappy or sad.

“Caroline knew if someone wasn’t feeling themselves and was able to check in on that person and offer support. She was always popping into my classroom before or after school for a gab and to just catch up or check in.

“She was always an advocate for all children but especially looked after children or disadvantaged children, she always had their needs at the forefront of her mind.

“She wore her heart on her sleeve and she just wanted the best for people. She fought hard for things she believed in.”

Ms Payne also wrote a poem in memory of Caroline which she shared with the school. One stanza she wrote said: “For twenty-five full, golden years / She guided hearts and calmed their fears / Quick with a joke, a clever spark / She lit up even Monday’s dark.”

Mrs Collins remembered Caroline empathy and consideration of others: “Caroline’s emails to staff at Christmas and the ends of terms about vulnerable children, reminded us all to think for a moment about how difficult these times could be for some. Such a thoughtful soul.”

A celebration of Caroline’s life will take place at West Lancashire Crematorium on Tuesday 24th June 2025 at 1pm. The family have requested people please wear a splash of colour to the service.

People are also advised that if they’d like to make a donation in Caroline’s honour, to do so for Diabetes UK and Queenscourt Hospice.

What’s On This Week: June 15-22

By Andrew Brown

Happy 150th birthday to the Botanic Gardens in Churchtown in Southport - and happy Father’s Day!

The Botanic Gardens is celebrating its historic anniversary with a huge, free fun day today (Sunday 15th June 2025) - and you’re all invited.

This special event for our town is among many of the things you can enjoy in Southport from Sunday, 15th June 2025 through to Sunday, 22nd June 2025:

Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to The Southport Lead to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.