Summary
Specialist mental health crisis centers are planned to open throughout England over the next ten years. These centers aim to help people in mental health crises faster, reducing pressure on regular hospital emergency departments. The plan will expand to many locations, and specialist staff will be available to assist patients.
Key Facts
- Mental health crisis centers will open across England over the next decade.
- Ten hospital trusts have already tested these centers with a new assessment model.
- The centers aim to reduce long waits in regular hospital emergency departments.
- These units are part of the NHS's ten-year plan to improve health service delivery.
- Patients can visit these centers on a walk-in basis or be referred by doctors and police.
- Specialist staff will be present to help people in severe mental distress.
- Andy Bell from the Centre for Mental Health stressed the need for proper funding.
- A recent study found over 60,000 people waited more than 12 hours in A&E after needing admission.
