Permanent Mother and Baby Unit Approved in Northern Ireland
A permanent regional Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) is set to be established in Northern Ireland on the grounds of Belfast City Hospital, with a design team to be appointed immediately.
For decades, mothers and families have campaigned for a dedicated unit where women can be treated alongside their babies, rather than being separated and cared for in general psychiatric wards.
Women who develop postpartum psychosis often experience symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and restlessness. If left untreated, these symptoms may lead to harm to themselves or their babies.
The Health Minister described the development as a
"significant step forward"and stated the aim is for the unit to open
"no later than 2028/29".
Regarding the chosen site, which is currently unused land, Mike Nesbitt explained that interim and temporary facilities previously discussed were not cost effective.
The minister added that a scoping exercise confirmed alternative options, including a dedicated hospital ward, would neither deliver a materially shorter timeline nor better value for money. Furthermore, such alternatives would not provide the same level of safety and assurance for mothers and babies.
The new unit will be constructed alongside an existing acute mental health inpatient facility within the Belfast City Hospital grounds. Its proximity to obstetric-led maternity services at the Royal Jubilee Hospital is considered essential for delivering safe, high-quality care.
Currently, approximately 100 women in Northern Ireland are admitted annually to adult psychiatric wards for care without their babies.
Understanding Postpartum Psychosis
Seven health ministers have supported the establishment of a mother and baby unit in Northern Ireland; however, funding had not previously been secured.
While the rest of the UK has 22 such units, Northern Ireland has none. This absence forces mothers experiencing severe postpartum mental health issues to be separated from their babies and treated in facilities such as Holywell Psychiatric Hospital, where they are alongside patients with a range of mental health conditions.
In June of the previous year, a BBC Spotlight investigation featured testimonies from women who had suffered severe postpartum psychosis and postnatal depression, highlighting their experiences of being cared for without their babies present.
During a Stormont debate in November, Mike Nesbitt remarked that a mother and baby unit was not only overdue but
"long, long overdue". At that time, however, he was unable to guarantee funding.
