Health programme: Major expansion of community mental health support across England, Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)
What are the main points?
- The government has announced plans for up to 159 new NHS mental health centres to open from this autumn, bringing support directly into communities. Further facilities are set to open from March 2027.
- The new community mental health centres will offer walk-in support without a referral and are designed to catch problems early.
- The centres will bring together mental health and specialist teams alongside GPs, councils, the voluntary sector and families, with links into housing and employment support.
- People who are in crisis have been promised dedicated mental health emergency care rather than a long wait in a busy A&E.
- The government called the rollout ‘the biggest redesign of mental health services in a generation’ and the first phase of a wider rollout detailed in the 10-Year Health Plan.
EXPERT THOUGHT
Brian Dow, deputy chief executive at Rethink Mental Illness, said: ‘Everyone should be able to access mental health support in their local community, when and where they need it. By bringing together treatment and wider support services under one roof, these centres can transform experiences of care.’
Image | ISTOCK
