Dedicated mother and baby unit should open no later than 2029 says health minister Mike Nesbitt

Mike Nesbitt said it had been a personal priority to address the "unacceptable" lack of such a unit in Northern Ireland, making it the only part of the UK without one.

He said that such a unit would provide specialist inpatient mental health care, allowing mothers to stay with their babies while receiving treatment, and such an approach is recognised as best practice.

"It supports recovery, protects infant wellbeing, and strengthens the earliest bonds between mother and child, bonds which are critical for lifelong health and development," he said.

He added that, after asking officials to assess all options for potential sites, that a permanent mother and baby unit would be established at a site at Belfast City Hospital.

He said a scoping exercise had "confirmed" that alternative locations or construction approaches would not deliver "a materially shorter timeline or better value for money".

He said in some cases they would involve "additional costs, staffing pressures and increased clinical risk".

"Most importantly, they would not offer the same level of safety and assurance for mothers and babies," he said on Thursday.

"Unfortunately, no agreement was possible with clinicians on a temporary/interim solution.

"However, I have secured a significant shortening of the timeframe for construction, by at least two years, meaning the unit should open no later than 2028/29.

"The outline business case for the facility has been approved at trust board level and submitted to the Strategic Planning and Performance Group .

"Departmental Health Estates has confirmed that preparatory work is complete and as the commissioner's letter of support has been issued, a design team can be appointed immediately and the project can proceed to the next stage of delivery.

"This represents a significant step forward from commitment to delivery."