NHS opens first ‘mental health A&E'
The new centre is offering walk-in appointments around the clock for patients with serious mental illness.
The first of six new 'neighbourhood mental health centres' opened this week in Tower Hamlets, east London, with the rest due to open in other areas later this year.
The NHS said the 'one-stop shop' would bring together a range of community mental health services under one roof, including crisis services, community mental health services and short-stay beds.
The centres will operate much as an A&E unit does but with a focus on mental health and without the lengthy delays those in crisis often face.
Last year 250,000 people went to A&E because of a mental health issue, but one-in-three had to wait more than 12 hours. One patient waited 18 days for a bed to become available.
People with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, will be able to walk in without an appointment if they need mental health support as well as advice on employment, housing, or volunteering.
Other patients will be able to book appointments or receive referrals to attend and speak with specialists.
The new services will be staffed by psychiatrists, therapists and other mental health professionals, as well as charity staff, volunteers, and people who have experienced serious mental illness themselves.
Claire Murdoch, national mental health director at NHS England, said the services would mean 'people can access all the support they need in one place without needing to book ahead'.
She said: 'We know that for people with serious mental health problems it can be daunting to seek help, and people can be overwhelmed by the different teams they come into contact with.
'NHS staff will be on hand round-the-clock to offer help as the health service looks to offer more community support through the 10 Year Health Plan.
'I would encourage anyone struggling with their mental health to come forward for care either by contacting their GP, NHS 111 or visiting their local neighbourhood centre.'
It comes after Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, set out the 10-year health plan earlier this month, outlining ambitions to bring care out of hospitals and into the community.
The NHS said the initiative was part of a wider approach to improve mental health care, alongside the rollout of 24/7 psychiatric teams in every A&E, a 24/7 mental health crisis helpline across England and dedicated mental health emergency departments.
The other 24/7 mental health centres will be based in Whitehaven in Cumbria, Acomb in York, East of Birmingham, Heeley in Sheffield, and Lewisham in London.
The NHS has ordered all local health providers to review the care they provide to those with the most serious mental illness, and issued guidance instructing patients not to discharge patients just for missing an appointment.
It comes after paranoid schizophrenic Valdo Calocane, the Nottingham killer that fatally stabbed Barnaby Webber, Grace O'Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates in 2023, had been discharged by the NHS after failing to engage with his care.
Cassandra Geisel of Rethink Mental Illness and lead for the Tower Hamlets Mental Health Alliance, said timely access to care can 'be the difference between recovery and crisis for people living with severe mental illness'.
She said: 'What people tell us, and what evidence shows, is that the most effective support is wraparound: providing access not only to clinical care and treatment but also to support with housing, employment, and building social connections.'
These factors can be powerful in preventing relapse and supporting recovery, but when absent, someone's mental health can significantly worsen.'
Lorraine Sunduza, chief executive of East London NHS Foundation Trust, said she was proud that they would be providing the first neighbourhood pilot site to be fully operational.
She said: 'The Barnsley Street Neighbourhood Mental Health Centre will provide person-centred mental health care for people in Bethnal Green when they need it and bring NHS care closer to home.'
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