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Calls for specialist unit in Northern Ireland | UK News

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Marie-Louise Connolly, Denise O’Connor and David Hunter

Spotlight

Shelley and Ruby smile as they stand on the shoreline at the beach looking at the camera. Ruby is in Shelley's arms and is eating a marshmallow. She has brown hair in a double ponytail and is wearing a white t-shirt with colourful patterns on it. Shelley has naturally dark hair which has been dyed blonde. She has sunglasses propped on top of her head and is wearing a black shirt. Shallow water is visible behind them, which stretches out to the mountains on the horizon.

Shelley Browne was diagnosed with postpartum psychosis after Ruby’s birth

A new mother who was detained in a psychiatric hospital for five weeks says she “felt like a prisoner” because she was separated from her baby.

Shelley Browne, who had postpartum psychosis, was admitted under a mental health order after giving birth three years ago.

In Great Britain mothers are cared for in specialist mother and baby units, but women in Northern Ireland are admitted to general psychiatric wards, separated from their babies.

The business case for a mother and baby unit is months overdue, but the Department of Health (DoH) said it was well developed.

However, it has also warned any future unit is dependent on funding being identified.

Shelley told Spotlight she felt “lonely” and “pathetic” after being dropped off at the door of the Ulster Hospital psychiatric ward without her daughter, but said staff tried their best.

“I went in voluntarily and it was just the loneliest feeling in the world getting dropped off at a mental health ward with a bag and no baby,” the 35-year-old said.

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

What is postpartum psychosis?

  • A rare but serious mental health illness that can affect any mother
  • Symptoms can include hallucinations, delusions, manic and low moods, loss of inhibitions, restlessness, out-of-character behaviour and confusion
  • If left untreated the condition can get rapidly worse and lead to mothers harming the baby, themselves or others
  • The most severe symptoms usually last between two and 12 weeks but recovery can take several months

SOURCE: NHS

Shelley smiles at the camera as she stands on a beach. Her long hair, which is naturally dark with blonde highlights, drapes down behind her shoulders. Shelley is wearing a light purple t-shirt which reads 'wellness' and 'self love'. Behind her a small piece of sand is visible along with the sea, a cloudy sky and some mountains in the distance.

Shelley Browne spent five weeks in hospital without her baby after giving birth

“I was a mother without her child and I felt like a prisoner,” said Shelley.

“She wasn’t with me, and I was in a mental facility. And it just broke me every morning.”

Seven health ministers have supported the idea of a mother and baby unit in Northern Ireland, but funding has never been found.

A man dressed in a green shirt over a white t-shirt stands to the left of the image outside the front door of a house. He has dark sandy hair and stubble. He is helping to hold up a young boy with sandy hair. The boy is wearing a patterned tshirt and green overall. To the right, a mother has her hand on the young boy to hold him up. She is wearing a blue denim dress and medium length dark hair with blonde highlights. Behind the three people is a wooden door with long window panes, and some red brick.

Danielle and Nial Sands, with son, Joe

Danielle Sands refused hospital treatment to stay with her first son, Joe, in 2022.

Instead she relied on specialist community teams.

“They had made it very clear that when I would go in there, I wouldn’t have my Joe with me.”

“There was voices in my head 24/7, and they were negative,” she said.

“Telling me everything I couldn’t do, I wasn’t good enough.”

Danielle and her partner, Nial, were supported by a community specialist perinatal mental health nurse.

The term perinatal covers the period of time from when a woman becomes pregnant, and up to a year after giving birth.

Dr Anderson, who has long dark hair with a fringe, is in a narrow corridor with high ceilings. It looks like a very old building with magnolia painted walls and a red floor. Behind her is a blue door which leads further down the corridor, and a small window. She is wearing a bright coloured patterned top, and a red lanyard which hangs around her neck.

Dr Julie Anderson is chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Northern Ireland

Each of Northern Ireland’s five health trusts receive more than 250 referrals for the community services each year, but because of staffing pressures they can only accept about 70 patients at a time.

Dr Julie Anderson, chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Northern Ireland, estimates the number of women admitted to hospital could double or triple if a mother and baby unit was established.

“It’s really, really frustrating knowing that there’s much better care that our mums should be getting here in Northern Ireland,” she said.

“And frankly, to be honest, somewhat embarrassing that we’ve been talking about this for almost 20 years and we’re still not there yet.”

Quinn family photograph A woman in a white wedding dress smiles at the camera. She is holding a bouquet of white roses with both hands in front of her. Her blonde hair has been styled into curls, and a veil hangs from it behind her. The bride is pictured in a garden with a bench, medium level wall and bright bushes visible behind her. Quinn family photograph

Orlaith Quinn died less than 48 hours after giving birth to her third child

In 2018, Orlaith Quinn died at the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital in Belfast.

The 33-year-old had given birth to her third child, a daughter, less than 48 hours earlier.

Siobhan Graham said her daughter began showing signs of postpartum psychosis shortly after giving birth.

“To go in and have a baby and come back out in a coffin, and you’ve three children left without their mother, it’s just not a position you think you’ll ever find yourself in a million years,” she said.

Orlaith’s body was found in a part of the hospital that is unused at night. She had taken her own life.

Family handout Three people stand smiling for the camera in front of a window, which shows large trees outside. To the left is a young woman in a green dress. Her blonde hair is tied up in a bun with a floral display. She has white earrings dangling. A man in a white shirt and blue tie is in the centre with an arm around the two women. He has dark hair, which is turning grey. To the right is an older woman with blonde hair which hangs by her shoulders. She is wearing a black pattered top, which appears to have flowers embroidered into the pattern. Family handout

Orlaith Quinn (left) pictured with her parents, Brendan and Siobhan

A 2022 inquest concluded Orlaith’s death had been “foreseeable and preventable” and that there were a number of missed opportunities in her care and treatment.

In a statement, the Belfast Health Trust said it would like to extend a sincere and unreserved apology to Orlaith’s family.

It added its maternity team would like the opportunity to meet Orlaith’s family to offer an apology in person.

The trust said it was committed to learning from Orlaith’s death and had put in place a training programme to help staff recognise the wider spectrum of perinatal mental health disorders, and the risk of maternal suicide.

Coroner Maria Dougan tied the death to the absence of a mother and baby unit, finding that one should be established in Northern Ireland.

Dr Black stands outside a modern building, which is painted white with bright yellow colours surrounding the window frames. She is wearing a bright blue top and has medium length greying hair. Dr Joe is looking at the camera, with a hoop pendant hanging on a necklace. Surrounding her are bright bushes, plants and flowers, in a sunny garden area.

Dr Jo Black set up a mother and baby unit in England

Consultant perinatal psychiatrist, Dr Jo Black, who is originally from Cookstown, was instrumental in setting up a mother and baby unit in Devon.

An eight-bed unit, the layout and decor of Jasmine Lodge means it does not feel clinical.

It has areas for families to visit, and a team of specialists.

She said it was “extraordinary” there is not a similar unit on the island of Ireland.

“All of our evidence shows us that maternal suicide remains a major killer in the maternity period,” she said.

“We can’t shy away from that, and so these units save lives.”

‘Poor data collection’

Between 2021 and 2023, 34% of late maternal deaths have been linked to mental health, according to a report by MBRRACE-UK, which includes Northern Ireland.

A late maternal death is when a woman died between six weeks and one year after pregnancy.

It is currently thought more than 3,500 women develop perinatal mental illness in Northern Ireland each year.

However, poor data collection could mean the need for perinatal mental health services is being underestimated, according to Dr Julie Anderson.

Spotlight has confirmed the Department of Health has yet to implement a 2017 recommendation from the health regulator to improve data collection.

At the time, the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) said patient coding should be improved.

The Department of Health said a review of coding practices for perinatal mental health conditions, and related hospital admissions, was planned.

If you have been affected by any of the issues in this story you can find information and support on the Actionline website.

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