Mother and baby unit a 'significant step forward'

"Mothers and families have campaigned for decades for a dedicated unit where women are treated alongside their babies instead of being separated and cared for in a general psychiatric ward."

"The health minister said it represents a 'significant step forward' and the aim is for it to open 'no later than 2028/29'."

"Each year, about 100 women in Northern Ireland are admitted to adult psychiatric wards for care, without their babies."

"If left untreated, the condition can get rapidly worse and lead to mothers harming the baby, themselves or others."

A permanent Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) will be built at Belfast City Hospital, addressing the long-standing need for dedicated care for mothers with postpartum psychosis. Women often face separation from their babies in general psychiatric wards, which can be detrimental. The health minister emphasized the importance of this unit for safety and quality care, with plans to open by 2028/29. Approximately 100 women annually require psychiatric care without their babies, highlighting the necessity of this facility for better mental health outcomes.

Read at www.bbc.com