26 September 2023

Hospital to bed down troubled mums

Start the conversation

New mothers with severe mental illness are set to be able to access care alongside their babies, with NSW’s first public purpose-built Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

Announced by Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Mental Health, Bronnie Taylor, the new Unit is set to support up to 120 women with acute or ongoing severe mental illness from across the State each year.

Ms Berejiklian said the specialised MBU was a crucial development in the delivery of mental healthcare in NSW.

“This unit will be accessible to new mums and mums-to-be across the State who require care in a hospital for a perinatal (immediately before and after birth) mental illness,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“We want these women to receive the specialist mental health care they need, as well as the opportunity to form a bond with their babies in those all-important formative months,” she said.

Mrs Taylor said each of the eight bedrooms at the MBU would be able to accommodate a mother, up to two infants under 12-months of age and a partner or family member.

She said MBU would also include space and equipment for antenatal care; a 24-hour respite nursery; a mothercraft room; a play area; a retreat room; and communal areas to accommodate multiple families with children.

Mrs Taylor said the MBU at RPA was expected to open by the end of 2021 and a second MBU at Westmead Hospital was in the initial planning stage.

Start the conversation

Be among the first to get all the Public Sector and Defence news and views that matter.

Subscribe now and receive the latest news, delivered free to your inbox.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.