Today the Government has announced investment of £150 million in NHS mental health urgent and emergency care services.
£143 million will fund 150 new facilities centred on improving mental health crisis response infrastructure across the country. This includes over 30 schemes providing crisis cafes, crisis houses and other similar safe spaces. I’m particularly delighted that £178,000 is to be invested in a brand new community mental health hub in Banbury which will provide essential support to people in North Oxfordshire.
Other schemes receiving funding include step-down services, mental health urgent assessment and care centres, crisis line upgrades and improvements to health-based ‘places of safety’ and emergency department spaces. The remaining £7 million will go towards the procurement of 100 specialised mental health ambulances.
I welcome this investment which will ensure that people experiencing – or at risk of experiencing – mental health crises receive greater access to high-quality, tailored support when they need it most. It will also go a long way in easing pressures on the NHS as people receive care and support in more appropriate settings outside of A&E.
You can read more on this announcement here.
