A dedicated space for people in crisis
Our emergency departments across, Whipps Cross, The Royal London and Newham Hospitals, see lots of mental health patients in crisis. These busy environments aren’t necessarily the right place for them and can cause more distress and put pressure on the department
Each hospital has been allocated £1.9m over the next two years to develop dedicated facilities for mental health patients in A&E departments, as part of a national programme to help people in crisis and ease overcrowding.
Last week, Calvin Bailey - local MP for Leyton and Wanstead - visited Whipps Cross Hospital to meet with our leadership team and learn about early-stage plans that are underway for the new facilities.
He previously visited our A&E department to meet with staff and learn about the progress made to the service to provide a safer and more consistent service.
A specialist department will mean mental health patients in crisis will no longer have to wait in busy A&E departments - they’ll receive specialist, same‑day care in the right environment.
The facilities will be staffed by mental‑health clinicians trained to assess, stabilise and connect patients to ongoing community or inpatient support.
Shane DeGaris, group chief executive, said:
“This investment will make a real difference for people across east London. Not only will it help ease pressure on our emergency departments, but it will improve the experience and outcomes of people in crisis, ensuring they get the right care, in the right place, when they need it most.”
Dr Malik Ramadhan, Medical Director at The Royal London Hospital spoke to Channel 4 News about the need for more provisions for mental patients in crisis.