Child and maternal health concerns rise in Northern Ireland and Ireland

New data indicates a decline in child and maternal health outcomes across parts of the UK and Ireland. In Northern Ireland, infant mortality rates have risen to 4.5 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024, the highest in the UK. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) attributed this trend to political instability, increased pressure on paediatric services, and expanding inequalities. The report also noted a decline in MMR vaccination uptake and rising obesity rates among children.

In Ireland, advocates are calling for the establishment of mother and baby psychiatric units to address a lack of specialized mental health facilities. Currently, mothers requiring inpatient psychiatric care must be separated from their infants. This shortage follows findings that suicide is a leading cause of maternal death in the country. While the UK operates 23 such units, Ireland has yet to establish a dedicated inpatient facility for mother and baby mental health care.