Construction begins on Alongside Midwifery-Led Unit at Antrim
Construction on an Alongside Midwifery-Led Unit (AMLU) at Antrim Area Hospital is underway.
The £5.7m building project is due to be completed early next year.
Alison Renfrew, Assistant Director for Capital Development in the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, said: “We’re delighted to see construction begin on this new unit.
“The build will create three additional birthing suites which will be separate from the main maternity ward with its own separate entrance, but, importantly, women will continue to have access to the on-site obstetric and consultant-led services if needed.”
Suzanne Pullins, the Trust’s Executive Director of Nursing, Paediatrics and Women’s Services said the new unit would give women in the Northern Trust area parity with the rest of the region.
She said: “Unlike the four other HSC Trusts in the region, the Northern Trust has no midwifery-led unit currently, so this is a really welcome step closer to delivering improved experiences for women in our community.
“We’re very excited to see construction get underway. This is a really positive development and fits with the vision we have for our maternity services. It is an important project for our Trust and another example of how we remain committed to improving experience and outcomes for our patients.
“I’m pleased that this unit will allow women to have more choice around their maternity care pathways and create equity across the entire region.”
David Hamilton, Managing Director of Martin & Hamilton, the construction company engaged to deliver the new unit, added: “Our team is enthusiastic to begin construction of this much needed facility. As a local company, we are delighted to be building quality healthcare facilities for our community.”
The development of the AMLU at Antrim was a requirement of the Permanent Secretary Peter May when he approved the recommendation of the Trust Board to consolidate all hospital births at Antrim Area Hospital.
Since July 2023, all inpatient births have taken place at Antrim, while Causeway Hospital continues to provide both antenatal and postnatal care.
Any diversions as a result of construction works at the Antrim hospital site will be signposted for visitors and patients.
11th June 2025
