Mental health A&E units to open across England where patients can be seen in 10 minutes

The NHS is opening a network of mental health A&Es across England to relieve pressure on hospitals amid the ongoing “corridor care” crisis.

These units will be staffed with specialist doctors and nurses to provide 24/7 support for patients feeling suicidal or experiencing symptoms such as psychosis or mania, NHS England confirmed.

Patients will be able to walk in or be referred by GP and the police to these units, designed to be a “calm and welcoming” environment in contrast to the “noise and chaos” of hospitals.

Sir Jim Mackey, the chief executive of NHS England, said “Crowded A&Es are not designed to treat people in mental health crisis. We need to do better, which is why we are pioneering a new model of care where patients get the right support in the right setting.

“As well as relieving pressure on our busy A&Es, mental health crisis assessment centres can speed up access to appropriate care, offering people the help they need much sooner so they can stay out of hospital.”

The mental health A&Es hope to relieve pressure on overcrowded hospitals as the “corridor care” crisis ensues. Last year, 250,000 people went to A&E experiencing mental health crises, with one in three waiting more than 12 hours.

The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) estimated around 320 patients a week may have died in England last year due to excessive waits for hospital beds in A&E departments.

Already, 10 NHS trusts have launched separate units for mental health crises, some on sites alongside existing A&E units, but the scheme is expected to be expanded nationally to dozens of locations as part of the 10 year NHS plan set to be published this summer by the government.

Ladbroke Grove, west London, is home to one of the first new mental health units being rolled out by the NHS. The unit, run by Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL), is staffed by a team of mental health nurses, doctors and healthcare assistants round the clock.

Mental health nurse Toti Freysson, who manages the service, told The Times: “Anybody who walks in is seen by a mental health specialist within 10 minutes.”

“Normally in A&E they would have to wait for hours, surrounded by the noise and the chaos. Most of the people we see have suicidal thoughts. Here, they can come in and sit with their families. We are able to intervene early and link them up with treatment in the community. It means we can get them home much sooner.

The new services include a “full and holistic assessment” of a patient’s mental health needs, hoping to address the root causes of a crisis.

The unit’s deputy head of urgent care, Selena Cox, told The Times that staff make sure that patients have a plan, of action going forward. This may involve connecting them to local charities to tackle homelessness, debt or addiction issues, or arranging home treatment team visits.

The Metropolitan Police, the country’s largest force, said in 2023 its officers would not attend mental health call-outs where a healthcare professional is more appropriate.

Claire Murdoch, the NHS national director for mental health, told the newspaper: “I would certainly hope to see these mental health A&Es across the country over the next decade.”

While the policy was welcomed by the Tories, the party’s shadow health minister warned that Labour’s decision to increase employer’s national insurance contributions at the last budget will force “mental health charities and local authorities to redirect their resources away from those struggling most”.

Dr Luke Evans said the mental health hubs are a “crucial step in recognising the importance of mental health and ensuring patients receive the right care in the right environment”

“However, this follows the Labour government’s decision to cut mental health spending as a proportion of the overall NHS budget and impose a jobs’ tax that has forced mental health charities and local authorities to redirect their resources away from those struggling most”, he added.

“This government must now make sure that these units are funded properly so that those struggling the most with their mental health can receive the targeted and compassionate care they’re in need of.”

Minister for Mental Health, Baroness Merron, said: “Too often, people experiencing mental health crisis are not getting the support or care they deserve, and so it is vital that we continue to provide a range of services like this one”

“Backed by an extra £680 million in government funding this year, we are transforming mental health services – investing £26 million in new mental health crisis centres, hiring more staff, delivering more talking therapies, and getting waiting lists down through our Plan for Change.

“On top of this, through our proposed reforms to the Mental Health Act, we will ensure people with the most severe mental health conditions get better more personalised care.”