Dr John Webster
Co-founder of Care Fertility
Specialties:
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology
About
Dr John Webster is a pioneering consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology and one of the UK’s most respected contributors to the field of IVF. He was present at the birth of Louise Brown, the world’s first IVF baby, and later co-founded Care Fertility in Nottingham—one of the first IVF clinics in the Midlands.
His career has been defined by innovation, collaboration, and patient care. From his early work with IVF pioneers Dr Patrick Steptoe and Professor Robert Edwards to establishing one of the UK’s most successful fertility centres, Dr Webster has helped thousands of people access treatment and build their families.
He was elected Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 1988, recognising his outstanding contribution to reproductive medicine.
Training
Dr Webster studied medicine at the University of Liverpool, graduating in 1960 with an MB ChB. He completed early training at Clatterbridge Hospital before taking a senior role under the mentorship of Dr Patrick Steptoe—whose partnership with Professor Robert Edwards would soon lead to the world’s first IVF birth.
After a decade working in Canada, Dr Webster returned to the UK in 1974 and rejoined Dr Steptoe at Oldham General Hospital. There, he focused on infertility and reproductive health, becoming directly involved in the early development of IVF.
During this time, he was awarded Membership of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (MRCOG).
Career
Dr Webster was present at one of the most significant moments in medical history—the birth of Louise Brown in July 1978. He assisted Dr Steptoe with the delivery and remained closely involved in the years that followed, working to turn IVF into an accessible treatment option.
In 1980, he joined Dr Steptoe and Professor Edwards to establish Bourn Hall, the world’s first IVF clinic. As Deputy Medical Director, Dr Webster helped shape the clinical systems and care models that supported early IVF patients and laid the foundation for future success.
In 1985, he launched an IVF unit at the Park Hospital in Nottingham—the sixth in the UK and the first in the Midlands—bringing fertility treatment closer to patients across the region. This clinic later became part of Care Fertility, where Dr Webster served as Medical Director until his retirement in 2006.
The purpose-built Care Fertility centre in Nottingham, John Webster House, was named in his honour. In a 2006 interview with the BBC, Dr Webster spoke about the challenges and promise of IVF in its earliest days. He later reflected on the experience in a 2018 video interview, sharing what it meant to be part of such a ground-breaking chapter in medicine, saying:
I don’t think there’s any doubt about it that IVF has brought far more happiness to far more people than Man landing on the Moon.
Dr Webster’s legacy lives on in the thousands of families he helped create, and in the continued work of the Care Fertility team—delivering personalised, science-led care inspired by his pioneering spirit.