To ask the Minister of Health how mothers experiencing (i) trauma; and (ii) postnatal depression are supported to remain with their children.

The specialist perinatal mental health teams that are now operational in each Health and Social Care Trust provide a comprehensive service dedicated to treating illness in the mother alongside supporting and enhancing the relationship between the mother and her infant. The teams have a range of professionals with skills and expertise in this area, including parent infant psychotherapists, health visitors, midwives and psychologists. Each team is already starting to see very positive outcomes from these interventions.

The teams are also involved in training initiatives with a wide range of professionals for those women who do not meet threshold for specialist services.

In addition there are also a wide range of services already 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,

In addition, my officials are also progressing the provision of a Mother and Baby Unit. In early 2023 my Department commissioned an independent review to make recommendations and provide advice on a suitable model and location for a Mother and Baby Unit, which would best meet the needs of the population. The Department received the final report from the review team in mid-September 2023. It provided recommendations on the preferred service model for the unit, and the location of the Mother and Baby Unit, with the Belfast City Hospital site identified as the most suitable location. At that point, the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust was invited to prepare a business case for the provision of the proposed regional unit.

The business case for Mother and Baby Unit is currently being progressed. It should be noted that progression of this project will remain subject to the necessary funding for the unit being identified.