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Child and maternal health challenges in UK and Ireland

Updated 3 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-27 03:54 UTC → 2026-10-13 05:37 UTC · added removed

Health outcomes for children and mothers in the UK and Ireland have shown signs of decline. In Northern Ireland, infant mortality rates reached 4.5 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024, the highest in the UK. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health linked this to political instability, service pressure, and rising inequalities, alongside declining MMR vaccination rates and increasing childhood obesity. In Ireland, specific concerns have emerged regarding maternal mental health. Advocates have highlighted a lack of dedicated mother and baby psychiatric units, noting that mothers requiring inpatient care must currently be separated from their infants. Subsequent reports indicate that Ireland’s Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Services (SPMHS) are facing an access crisis. Wait times for women in crisis can exceed one month, and some hospitals have tightened acceptance criteria, claiming current care levels are “no longer sustainable.” This has led to patients being redirected to general practitioners rather than receiving specialized psychiatric care. An ongoing investigation into Ireland’s perinatal mental health services is now examining the availability, organization, and accessibility of support for conditions such as depression, anxiety, and postpartum psychosis. The scrutiny follows reports that SPMHS is struggling to meet increased demand. Furthermore, infrastructure delays persist; the location for Ireland’s first dedicated mother and baby psychiatric unit remains undecided after nearly a decade, with a feasibility study for a unit at St Vincent’s decade. Recent staffing constraints have further impacted these services. Portiuncula University Hospital in Dublin having been ongoing Galway and Regional Hospital Portlaoise in Laois are currently not providing specialist mental health services for over two years without conclusion. pregnant women and new mothers. Additionally, five other regional hospitals are operating at reduced capacity, working only four days a week, creating gaps in the SPMHS model intended to support women experiencing moderate to severe depression.

Versions

  1. 2026-10-13 05:37 UTC Child and maternal health challenges in UK and Ireland
  2. 2026-09-27 03:54 UTC Child and maternal health challenges in UK and Ireland
  3. 2026-09-27 03:51 UTC Child and maternal health challenges in UK and Ireland
  4. 2026-09-22 01:18 UTC Child and maternal health challenges in UK and Ireland

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