The NHS is planning to establish a network of mental health emergency units across England, addressing the increasing crowding in conventional A&Es. Individuals experiencing severe mental health crises, such as suicidal thoughts or psychotic episodes, can either walk in or be referred to these specialized facilities by GPs or police. Staffing these units will include trained doctors and nurses available round-the-clock. Initial openings by ten NHS trusts could expand nationally under a forthcoming NHS 10-year plan. Research indicates many people facing mental health crises are waiting long periods in A&Es, prompting this strategic shift.
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.
The findings were included in research by the Royal College of Nursing. Based on freedom of information requests to NHS trusts in England and evidence from senior nurses, the research found that at least 5,260 people a year in a mental health crisis wait more than 12 hours for a bed after a decision has been made to admit them.
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.
Lots of people will just come and wait and be patient. But as you can imagine, some of them are in severe crisis. They want to leave. They want to self-harm.
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