The National Maternity Hospital
Home Support Services Specialist Clinical Support Medical Social Work

Medical Social Work

Medical Social Workers provide supports you and your family with any psychological, emotional, social or practical difficulties while you are attending The National Maternity Hospital.

This service can help you access practical supports and will have up-to-date information on relevant support services.

The team also provides counselling support and advice around the following areas:

  • Limited family or social supports
  • An unplanned pregnancy
  • Options in pregnancy
  • Coping with stress and change
  • Relationship difficulties
  • The admission of a baby to the Neonatal Unit
  • Complications associated with Fetal Anomalies
  • Complex health needs of a mother or baby
  • Alcohol or substance use
  • Newly arrived families, including International Protection applicants
  • Homelessness
  • Domestic violence
  • Safety concerns
  • Young people, who are under 18 years
  • Child protection concerns

How to Access Social Work

This service is available free of charge to all patients of this hospital.

A referral can be made to our service by a member of staff (medical, midwifery or other health care professional) in the National Maternity Hospital or an external healthcare professional such as your GP or public health nurse. You can also self refer by phone, email or dropping in to us.

What to Expect

If you would like more information on how the Medical Social Worker can support you, please click on the following links:

Attending Fetal Medicine

We provide psychosocial support for families where there is a concern regarding the development of their baby.

Baby in the Neonatal Unit

Research tells us that NICU admissions can be very stressful for families, this can be exacerbated by responsibilities at home such as other children, language barriers, lack of family support,…

Domestic Abuse in Pregnancy

Domestic abuse can and does have a serious impact on the health and wellbeing of Mothers and their babies/children.

Inclusion Health

We can support you if you are homeless, at risk of homelessness or face marginalisation

Substance or Alcohol Use in Pregnancy

A specialist service to expectant mothers who are experiencing problematic substance use in their pregnancy

Teen Pregnancy

Support for young people who are pregnant

Contact Details

Email: socialworkadmin@nmh.ie

Phone: 01‑6373236

Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday, 7am–7pm

You can call directly to the Medical Social Work Department (Ground Floor opposite the Front Hall).

An immediate appointment may not always be available however, you will be offered an appointment as soon as possible depending on your circumstances.