Amanda Stothers, a midwife at Ulster Hospital's Home from Home Unit, received the Hazel McCalister Exceptional Midwife Award. The award honours midwives nominated by colleagues for care, professionalism and teamwork. It was established in February 2022 by the Royal College of Midwives South Eastern HSC Trust Branch following the death of Hazel McCalister, a former midwife at the hospital.

Hazel McCalister's son Aaron presented the award. Stothers accepted it on behalf of her team. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt MLA attended the ceremony and thanked midwives for their healthcare contributions. South Eastern Trust Deputy Chief Executive Professor David Robinson noted the high standard of nominations. Home from Home Unit Ward Manager Lindsay Wright praised Stothers' care standards.

Nesbitt also visited the Community Maternity Hub at Ards Hospital on 5 May 2026 to mark International Day of the Midwife. He met midwives providing antenatal, intranatal and postnatal care. The hub runs clinics in Holywood, Ards, East Belfast and Bangor, mainly for low-risk pregnancies, with support for higher-risk cases.

Services include booking scans, glucose tolerance testing, home births and postnatal home visits. The team operates a breastfeeding support group with health visitors. Nesbitt highlighted the shift to neighbourhood care models and the importance of continuity for trust during pregnancy.

South Eastern Trust Chairman Jonathan Patton welcomed Nesbitt to the hub. Lead Midwife Claire McGuigan described the service's focus on familiar environments and ongoing support.