Southport and Formby District General Hospital
NHS hospital · Southport
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Southport and Formby District General Hospital is an NHS hospital in Southport, Sefton, run by Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. See whether it has an A&E, its phone number, visiting and how to get there.
At a glance
- A&E
- A&E open 24 hours
- Planned care wait
- Half waited less than 12 weeks (whole trust)
- CQC rating
- Requires improvement (published 29 November 2019)
- Telephone
- 01704 547471
Information checked 16 October 2026.
Urgent help
Call 999 or go to A&E if someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk. For urgent help that is not an emergency, use NHS 111 online or call 111.
Waiting times at Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
These figures are for the whole trust, which runs 4 hospitals listed on this site, not just Southport and Formby District General Hospital. Waits at this hospital may be shorter or longer.
Other hospitals in this trust:
A&E: time spent in A&E
62.8% of people who went to the trust’s major A&E departments in September 2026 were admitted, transferred or discharged within 4 hours.
18,040 attendances. England average for major A&E departments: 60.6%. In an emergency, go to the nearest A&E or call 999.
Compare A&E waiting times at other hospitals.
Waiting for planned treatment
These are people who were still waiting at the end of August 2026 for non-urgent treatment led by a consultant, counted from the referral. The table shows the trust’s 5 specialties with the most people waiting. “Half waited less than” is the median wait. The NHS maximum waiting time for non-urgent, consultant-led treatment is 18 weeks.
| Specialty | People waiting | Half waited less than | 92 in 100 waited less than | Waiting under 18 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dermatology | 8,204 | 15 weeks | 48 weeks | 55.3% |
| Plastic surgery | 8,130 | 18 weeks | 46 weeks | 50.7% |
| Ear, nose and throat | 7,930 | 14 weeks | 41 weeks | 59.4% |
| Trauma and orthopaedics | 7,915 | 9.7 weeks | 40 weeks | 67.4% |
| Gastroenterology | 7,854 | 9.2 weeks | 29 weeks | 79.4% |
| All specialties | 83,764 | 12 weeks | 40 weeks | 65% |
Show all 17 specialties at this trust
| Specialty | People waiting | Half waited less than | 92 in 100 waited less than | Waiting under 18 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General surgery | 6,285 | 14 weeks | 42 weeks | 60.3% |
| Gynaecology | 6,266 | 11 weeks | 39 weeks | 68.7% |
| Urology | 5,475 | 12 weeks | 36 weeks | 68.4% |
| Ophthalmology | 3,864 | 12 weeks | 31 weeks | 69% |
| Children's services (paediatrics) | 2,826 | 7.9 weeks | 26 weeks | 82.2% |
| Cardiology | 2,729 | 12 weeks | 27 weeks | 72.1% |
| Oral surgery | 2,510 | 16 weeks | 44 weeks | 54.8% |
| Rheumatology | 1,565 | 13 weeks | 38 weeks | 64.2% |
| Respiratory medicine | 1,155 | 9.5 weeks | 24 weeks | 81.1% |
| Elderly medicine | 414 | 9.1 weeks | 23 weeks | 83.8% |
| General internal medicine | 321 | 5.7 weeks | 23 weeks | 90.7% |
| Neurosurgery | 39 | 29 weeks | 46 weeks | 25.6% |
If your GP refers you, in most cases you have the legal right to choose which hospital you go to for your first appointment. Compare waiting times at hospitals near you.
Source: NHS England, Consultant-led Referral to Treatment Waiting Times (August 2026, published 8 October 2026) and A&E Attendances and Emergency Admissions (September 2026). Official statistics for the trust as a whole. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence.
Procedures at this hospital
Published figures for Southport and Formby District General Hospital from national audits and NHS statistics, from the UK Hospitals Guide. Each guide page explains what the figures mean and compares hospitals in the North West. This is not a ranking.
Figures for this hospital
- Hip replacement
223Joint replacements, all joints, 2025 (NJR)
Middle hospital in the North West: 667Fewer than 400. NJR outlier analysis (90-day mortality and revision rates): Not identified as an outlier - Knee replacement
223Joint replacements, all joints, 2025 (NJR)
Middle hospital in the North West: 667Fewer than 400. NJR outlier analysis (revision rates): Not identified as an outlier - Emergency bowel surgery (emergency laparotomy)
86Emergency laparotomies, NELA year 11
Middle hospital in the North West: 11875 to 99. Deaths within 30 days (risk-adjusted): Within the 95% funnel limits - Stroke care
56Stroke patients, January to March 2026 (SSNAP)
Middle hospital in the North West: 139Stroke team. Fewer than 75. SSNAP level (A is highest, E lowest): Level D
Figures for the whole trust
These are published for the trust as a whole. The operation may be done at another of its hospitals.
- Bowel cancer surgery Major bowel cancer operations, 2024 (NBOCA): 200 or more (288). Deaths within 90 days of surgery (adjusted): 3.7%
- Breast cancer surgery Women having breast cancer surgery, 2021 to 2023 (NAoPri): 600 to 999 (691). Further operation after breast-conserving surgery (adjusted): 10.5%
- Carpal tunnel release treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 1,500 to 2,499
- Lumbar decompression (lower back surgery) treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 150 to 399
- Coronary artery bypass graft (heart bypass) treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: fewer than 750
- Coronary angioplasty and stents treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: fewer than 750
- Varicose vein treatment treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 600 to 1,499
- Inguinal hernia repair treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 3,000 or more
- Gallbladder removal treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 1,000 to 1,999
- Haemorrhoid (piles) surgery
- Weight loss surgery
- Cataract surgery treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 7,500 or more
- Tonsil removal (tonsillectomy) treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 1,000 to 1,499
- Grommets for glue ear treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 750 or more
- Hysterectomy treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 3,000 or more
- Giving birth and caesarean section treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 5,000 or more
- Prostate surgery for an enlarged prostate (TURP)
- Kidney stone treatment
Sources: national clinical audits (NJR, NHFD, NELA, SSNAP, NATCAN, NVR) and NHS England statistics, under the Open Government Licence or CC BY 4.0. Data updated 26 October 2026.
Opening times
Opening days and times
Hospital wards are staffed 24 hours a day. The A&E department is open 24 hours a day, every day.
Outpatient clinics, tests and scans run at set times. Your appointment letter or text message tells you when and where to go.
See Visiting for visiting times.
Visiting information on the hospital website
A&E status: NHS England emergency care data (Emergency Care Data Set, August 2026).
Appointments and access
First outpatient appointments
To see a specialist at an NHS hospital, you usually need a referral, for example from your GP, dentist or optometrist.
In most cases you have the right to choose which hospital you are referred to for your first outpatient appointment.
Your referral is usually booked through the NHS e-Referral Service. You can then manage it in the NHS App or on the NHS website.
Some services let you refer yourself, such as maternity care.
If you already have an appointment, use the phone number on your appointment letter.
Contact the hospital to book or to ask about appointments.
Contact
Main telephone
Telephone: 01704 547471
Contact the hospital to book or to ask about appointments.
Location and travel
Address and map
Southport and Formby District General Hospital
Town Lane
Southport
PR8 6PN
Find care near here
Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026.
Car parking
There is on-site parking, but spaces are limited at Southport hospital. No tickets are issued: cameras read your number plate and you pay at a payment machine (cash or card), by contactless at the exit barrier, or in advance with the Glide app. Charges: 0 to 20 minutes free, 20 minutes to 1 hour £3.00, 1 to 2 hours £3.50, more than 6 hours £8.00, and a £20 weekly pass.
Blue Badge holders get free parking once the Trust has validated the badge (a one-off check until the badge is renewed), done with a car park attendant, by phone or email, or at the General Office at the main entrance.
From the hospital's car parking page, checked 15 November 2026. Charges and car park rules can change, so check before you travel.
NHS hospitals in England must offer free car parking to Blue Badge holders who are patients or visitors, outpatients who attend at least 3 times in a month for at least 3 months, the parent or guardian of a child under 18 staying in overnight (7.30pm to 8am, up to 2 vehicles) and staff working night shifts. Ask the hospital how to claim it, as you may need to register your vehicle.
Source: NHS car parking guidance, Department of Health and Social Care (updated 29 March 2022), checked 15 November 2026.
Facilities
We do not have details of step-free access, parking or other facilities here yet. If you need them, contact the hospital before you go.
Visiting
Visiting times
Adult wards allow visiting 1.30pm to 4.00pm and 6.00pm to 8.00pm. The children's ward and A&E allow two parents or carers per child, and maternity, neonatal and the Spinal Injuries Centre have separate arrangements.
From the hospital's visiting page, checked 15 November 2026.
Visiting times and rules can change, for example during outbreaks. Check the hospital's own pages before you go:
Links found on the hospital's official website, checked 24 October 2026.
Book, change or complain
- How to book a hospital appointment
- Manage your referral (NHS e-Referral Service)
- What the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) does
- Read inspection reports (CQC)
- Get an email when CQC inspects this hospital
- Tell CQC about your care
- Find your local Healthwatch
About this hospital
| Provider | Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust |
|---|---|
| Type | NHS hospital |
| NHS or private | NHS |
| Local authority | Sefton |
More details
| NHS organisation code | RBN05 |
|---|---|
| CQC location ID | RBN05 |
Official website: Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust website
Hospital services
CQC lists these regulated service types at this location:
- Community services - Healthcare
- Hospital
Service types are regulatory categories, not a full list of departments. Being registered for a service does not always mean it is running now. Check with the hospital.
Regulation and quality
This location is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The latest published ratings are below.
| Area | Rating | Published |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | Requires improvement | 29 November 2019 |
| Caring | Good | 29 November 2019 |
| Effective | Requires improvement | 29 November 2019 |
| Responsive | Requires improvement | 29 November 2019 |
| Safe | Requires improvement | 29 November 2019 |
| Well-led | Requires improvement | 29 November 2019 |
Read the CQC report for Southport and Formby District General Hospital
Frequently asked questions
What is the telephone number for Southport and Formby District General Hospital?
Telephone: 01704 547471.
Is there parking at Southport and Formby District General Hospital?
There is on-site parking, but spaces are limited at Southport hospital. No tickets are issued: cameras read your number plate and you pay at a payment machine (cash or card), by contactless at the exit barrier, or in advance with the Glide app. Charges: 0 to 20 minutes free, 20 minutes to 1 hour £3.00, 1 to 2 hours £3.50, more than 6 hours £8.00, and a £20 weekly pass. Blue Badge holders get free parking once the Trust has validated the badge (a one-off check until the badge is renewed), done with a car park attendant, by phone or email, or at the General Office at the main entrance. Checked 15 November 2026.
What are the visiting hours at Southport and Formby District General Hospital?
Adult wards allow visiting 1.30pm to 4.00pm and 6.00pm to 8.00pm. The children's ward and A&E allow two parents or carers per child, and maternity, neonatal and the Spinal Injuries Centre have separate arrangements. Checked 15 November 2026; wards can change their times, so check before you go.
What is the CQC rating of Southport and Formby District General Hospital?
The latest overall CQC rating is Requires improvement, published 29 November 2019.
Nearby hospitals
Specialist hospital · No A&E
Lower Lane, Liverpool, L9 7LJ
About 11.7 miles away
Distances are straight-line estimates from postcode locations.
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Printed from https://ukhospitals.uk/hospital/southport-and-formby-district-general-hospital/ on 15 November 2026.