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Campaigners have pushed for a psychiatric mother and baby unit for well over a decade. File photo from Creative Commons
THE first in-patient psychiatric mother and baby unit for Northern Ireland is due to be confirmed within days, The Detail can reveal.
It is understood the unit, aimed at helping women suffering severe mental illnesses after giving birth, will be housed in the Belfast health trust area.
The Department of Health is expected to formally announce next week that a unit will be set up.
However, without a government at Stormont, campaigners fear the facility will not be launched for several years.
Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK without a specialist unit.
Campaigners have estimated that more than 100 women a year could benefit from a specialist facility, which gives care to mothers and their babies.
Mothers suffering from severe mental illnesses after giving birth in the north are typically admitted to general psychiatric wards and separated from their babies - a practice which activists have warned has a long-term impact on the mother and child.
A spokesman for the Department of Health said it commissioned an independent review into a possible unit earlier this year.
“The department recently received the final report arising from this review which provides helpful recommendations on taking forward delivery of the unit,” he said.
“An update will be provided in the coming days on the rollout and delivery of perinatal mental health services as well as the next steps in relation to a MBU (mother and baby unit).”
It is more than a decade since the Assembly’s Health Committee accepted the need for a unit.
Renewed calls for a specialist facility came during an inquest in May last year into the death of mother-of-three Orlaith Quinn.
Mrs Quinn (33), from Belfast, died by suicide at the city’s Royal Jubilee Maternity hospital in October 2018 – two days after she gave birth to her third child.
Coroner Maria Dougan found that Mrs Quinn was suffering from postpartum psychosis – a debilitating illness which sees mothers experience symptoms including hallucinations, delusions, mania, and severe confusion.
Around 35 women a year in Northern Ireland experience the illness.
As part of her findings, Ms Dougan said a mother and baby unit should be set up.
Charities including Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) have been campaigning for a unit for years.
Dr Jess Heron, chief executive of Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP). Picture courtesy of APP
APP’s chief executive, Dr Jess Heron, said it was keen to hear the Department of Health’s announcement.
“We know that there has been real enthusiasm in the NHS community for an MBU and a lot of hard work has been done to get us to this stage,” she said.
“But an announcement of a strategic business plan, which is what we expect along with a location, isn’t going to be enough.
“We need to see funding, and some firm timelines, and without a government in Northern Ireland we’re not sure how that can happen.”
Dr Heron warned that it “could be many years” until a facility opens.
“We’re hoping the announcement will include interim measures,” she said.
“We know there’s a risk that interim measures become permanent, but it’s already been a year since we were told to expect an announcement in spring, then summer, then autumn…
“We need to pick up the pace before more women die, but also before women are traumatised by being separated from their babies.”