Over the weekend, a wave of headlines focused on proposed "Mental Health A&Es" being rolled out across the NHS. These units are being positioned as an alternative to traditional A&E departments for patients experiencing mental health crises.
I recall this idea being floated during the early days of the Covid pandemic, as a way to ease pressure on emergency services. As a reporter with a particular interest in mental health, I've taken a closer look at these units – and the reality is more complex than the headlines suggest. To begin with, the concept isn't new. Around 14 of these hubs, also known as mental health assessment centres, are already operating across the country. However, there's a striking lack of research into how effective they are. NHS England has admitted it doesn't hold data on waiting times or on the number of patients accessing these services.
The potential benefits are clear: these hubs could offer calmer, more appropriate environments for mental health patients than the often chaotic and overstimulating settings of standard A&Es, where quiet spaces and privacy are limited. But much depends on staffing. Understaffed units simply won't be able to deliver the level of care required – no matter how well-intentioned the design.
One major concern is that these hubs won't provide full support or diagnosis for physical health issues – a significant limitation given the close links between physical and mental health. And a bigger question remains: will these hubs actually address the root problem of long waits for mental health care? For those needing complex interventions – such as inpatient beds or comprehensive community care packages – these units offer little solution.
Are we simply shifting the waiting room? If patients are currently stuck in A&E corridors for days or even weeks, will they now just be waiting somewhere else?
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