AQW 26613/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 06/05/2025
Answered On Date: 21/05/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail any support available for mothers who do not meet the threshold for clinical intervention but continue to experience mental health challenges after childbirth.

Answer:

There are a wide range of services in existence in maternity services, primary care and the community and voluntary sector that adopt a trauma focused approach and are dedicated to supporting women to parent their children and support women across the spectrum of mental health issues that occur that do not meet the threshold for clinical intervention. These include specialist midwifery and health visiting initiatives.

One such initiative is the Continuity of Midwifery Carer which was launched in May 2023. This new model of maternity care provides integrated, appropriate and seamless care for all women through their journey from pregnancy and birth to early parenthood. Research has concluded that midwife continuity of carer models save babies’ lives, reduce interventions and improve clinical outcomes and women’s experiences.

Specialist Perinatal Mental Health teams are now operational in each Health and Social Care Trust and provide a comprehensive service dedicated to treating illness in the mother alongside supporting and enhancing the relationship between the mother and her infant. These teams are also involved in training initiatives with a wide range of professionals for those women who do not meet threshold for specialist services.