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17 Dec 2025

SOS Causeway Campaign raises alarm over maternity deferrals and escalations

Between August 2023 and October 2024, over 300 inductions of labour were delayed at Antrim Area Hospital — with 119 deferred by over 12 hours

SOS Causeway Campaign raises alarm over maternity deferrals and escalations

SOS Causeway campaigners pictured at a previous rally.

Reporter:

Staff Reporter

17 Dec 2025 7:30 PM

Email:

news@derrynow.com

SOS Causeway Hospital campaign is raising urgent concerns following newly released data on maternity care at Antrim Area Hospital.
When the decision was made to transfer births from Causeway Hospital to Antrim, campaigners and local residents were assured that Antrim was fully equipped to cope.
The data now reveals a very different reality, according to campaigners.
Between August 2023 and October 2024, over 300 inductions of labour were delayed at Antrim Area Hospital — with 119 deferred by over 12 hours. In the same period, 57 planned caesarean sections were delayed beyond 12 hours. These delays represent serious risks to maternal and infant health.
Compounding the issue are escalating pressures within the maternity unit itself. Since January 2024, Antrim’s maternity services have experienced a surge in red escalation alerts, indicating critical shortages in staffing and capacity. In the first half of 2025 alone, there were 47 red escalation incidents, compared to zero in the latter half of 2023. 
Amber escalations — signalling insufficient 1:1 care, environmental capacity, and medical staffing — have also risen sharply, with 42 incidents recorded since January 2024.
“We warned from the beginning that centralising births in Antrim would stretch resources beyond safe limits,” said Gemma Brolly, Chairperson of SOS Causeway Hospital.
“We were told this move would improve outcomes. But the data shows increased risk, delays, and escalating pressures. These are not isolated incidents — they are systemic failures.”
The Northern Trust’s inability to provide data on transfers of deliveries to other hospitals further compounds concerns around transparency and accountability.
“This pattern of deferrals, delays, and internal escalations raises serious questions about the proposed centralisation of emergency surgery in Antrim Area Hospital,” Brolly continued.
“We were told the very same about the centralisation of births — assurances that have been demonstrably disproven. How can we trust that emergency surgery will be any different?”
SOS Causeway Hospital is urging all service users to communicate any concerns they may have regarding their care to the Northern Trust’s user feedback team at info.governance@northerntrust.hscni.net. They say it is vital that lived experiences are heard and reflected in future decision-making.
The campaign also wishes to acknowledge the exceptional dedication and professionalism of the staff within the maternity unit, many of whom are working under immense pressure.
“Our frontline staff have gone above and beyond,” said Brolly.
“Many of them voiced concerns at the time of the transfer — concerns that have sadly proven accurate. We thank them sincerely for their continued commitment to patient care.”
SOS Causeway Hospital calls for an immediate review of maternity service capacity at Antrim and demands full transparency around the impact of centralisation. The campaign also urges decision-makers to reconsider any further consolidation of emergency services until robust safeguards and adequate resources are in place.
“The health and safety of our communities must come before administrative convenience,” Brolly concluded.
“We will not stand by while promises are broken and lives are put at risk.”
A spokesperson for the Northern Trust said: "The largely unpredictable nature of maternity services, particularly in relation to women in spontaneous labour means that the service needs to able to adapt. It is part of the normal process for scheduled births (inductions or elective C-sections) to be delayed, if clinically safe to do so, to ensure the safety of the women and babies in our care. Scheduled births can also be brought forward when required. This happens in every maternity unit and is not unique to Antrim Area Hospital or the Northern Trust.

"Any delays in treatment or care are risk assessed by the multi-disciplinary team and these delays do not represent serious risks to maternal and infant health. This clinical triaging process enhances safety by ensuring those women who require immediate or urgent care are treated in a timely way and that all women receive one to one midwifery care in labour. Providing the highest standard of care to women and babies has been, and remains, our priority.

"A two-month interim review of the transformation of acute maternity services in the Northern Health and Social Care Trust was published in October 2023. The review, which looked at the period from 17 July to 18 September 2023, demonstrated that the transition to moving all hospital births to Antrim Area Hospital has been done safely and effectively.  Two further reviews, at 6 months and 12-months have also been undertaken and have provided assurances that our maternity services provide safe and timely care.  We welcome the construction of the £5.7m Alongside Midwife-Led Unit (AMU) at Antrim Area Hospital which is scheduled to open in spring 2026. This will provide additional space and will offer women the choice of midwife-led care alongside the obstetric and consultant-led services which are already in place at Antrim’s maternity unit."

 

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