Holywell hospital staff welcome Health Minister

Staff at Holywell Hospital in Antrim welcomed Health Minister Mike Nesbitt this week.

During his visit, the Minister met with staff and patients, and also viewed development plans for the new Birch Hill Centre for Mental Health.

Dr Petra Corr, Director of Mental Health, Learning Disability and Community Wellbeing at the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, said: “We were really delighted to welcome the Minister to Holywell and for him to have the opportunity to see round the hospital, and to hear from the staff who are delivering our inpatient mental health services.

“The new Birch Hill development would allow us to create a therapeutic environment for patients to support their health and wellbeing and, importantly, deliver improved experiences and outcomes for our patients, as well as our staff.”

During the visit, the Minister was shown the mock-up bedroom designs for the new 134-bed unit which would replace the current inpatient provision at Holywell Hospital in Antrim and the Ross Thompson Unit at Causeway Hospital.

Service users and their families have been involved in the development plans for Birch Hill to share important ‘lived experience’ and insights which have informed the building’s design.

Dr Corr added: “Co-production has been integral to how we’ve developed our plans for Birch Hill. We wanted to ensure that we had input from those who have lived experience of accessing mental health services.

“Listening to our service users and carers has been vital as they are best placed to advise on what support and services will make a positive difference to their lives and we’re pleased to have had the opportunity to update the Minister.”

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said: “I would like to thank the staff at Holywell Hospital for the opportunity to see the important work they are undertaking to ensure the highest standards of care are provided to those with mental ill health.”

It was also recently announced that the design team behind Birch Hill Centre for Mental Health has been shortlisted in the Mental Health Awards 2025 for Project of the Year.

18th April 2025