AQW 28623/22-27

Ms Kate Nicholl
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 12/06/2025
Answered On Date: 27/06/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health (i) for an update on the development of a specialised mother and baby unit; and (ii) whether he will publish the business case in relation to the unit.

Answer:

An earlier independent review identified that the model of the proposed 6/7 bedded Mother and Baby Unit should be that as recommended by the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the location of the Mother and Baby Unit should be the City Hospital site, within the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.

I have already made it clear to officials within the Department that I wish to see the issue progressed at pace.

However, given the importance of the service, the latest position is that PHA colleagues have been asked for their input to strengthen the case for a 7 bedded unit so that the unit can be future proofed.

Belfast Trust are at a very advanced stage in the development of a capital and revenue business case. They have advised that once they receive instruction on the number of beds required, it will take 6 weeks to finalise the business case.

However, progression of the unit will remain subject to the necessary funding being identified.

While the development of a Mother and Baby Unit remains a longer-term strategic objective, my Department has committed to strengthening existing provision in the interim through:

Investment in community-based specialist perinatal mental health services.

Upskilling of perinatal clinical staff.

Implementation of the Perinatal Mental Health Care Pathways and associated guidance

Implementation of crisis intervention pathways and out-of-hours support for women experiencing acute distress.

Ongoing engagement with service users and advocacy groups to ensure care remains person-centred and responsive to the needs of mothers and families. Development of a Service User Leaflet to explain the Perinatal Mental Health

There are no plans to publish the business case in relation to the unit due to potential commercial sensitivities and the fact that progress of the Mother and Baby Unit remains subject to the necessary funding being identified.