People in England experiencing mental health crises will gain access to nearly 200 community mental health centres and mental health A&Es by 2029, as the government aims to provide specialist care closer to home. The initiative, which includes opening dozens of hubs in high street locations like banks and libraries, targets the issue of thousands of people turning up at A&E when they reach crisis point due to lack of help elsewhere. One in five people in England struggle with their mental health, and the government believes its plans will help tackle this issue and ensure people receive expert care when needed.
The government plans to open 100 new community mental health centres in various locations, including libraries and banks, and some will be set up in new buildings. These centres will bring together existing teams of nurses, therapists, and support workers, with many expected to be open seven days a week and some having short-stay bed facilities. Additionally, 59 dedicated mental health A&Es will be set up, on top of the 23 already operational, with many attached to existing A&Es.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated, "Nobody should be left to struggle with their mental health alone. But every day, thousands of people are waiting months for help, then finding the only door open to them is a busy A&E. These new centres will be a lifeline for so many," he said, adding that they will bring NHS services closer to home, making it easier to get support before problems get worse. Health Secretary Yvette Cooper added, "This is how we can turn the tide on mental ill health - preventing more people from reaching crisis, cutting waits for care, and building an NHS which is there for everyone when they need it."
Cooper spoke to BBC Breakfast, stating that there would be a "continual programme" of rolling out these mental health centres, with the first ones set to open this autumn. She emphasized that prevention can be much more effective in providing healthcare and that the government has already increased mental health staffing. However, she noted that "what these services are going to be doing is bringing together existing teams of staff to work together in a different way".
The chief executive of the Centre for Mental Health, Andy Bell, welcomed the announcement, although he expressed concern that the mental health emergency departments had not been properly tested yet. He also stated that children and young people, who will be able to use these services, needed their own dedicated hubs. Stephen Jones, of the Royal College of Nursing, agreed that investment in staff would be crucial if the new centres were going to cope with demand, stating, "More services closer to people's homes are a crucial step towards more humane care," but added, "To succeed, both will need specialist mental health nurses at the centre."
The Department of Health stated that the initiative is backed by £343m, with the first sites set to open in autumn this year, and further facilities following from March 2027. The government's plans aim to provide a network of specialist services to help those facing mental health crises, with the goal of ensuring people receive expert care when they need it.
