Overview

• Ten NHS trusts have launched pilot mental health A&E units, offering 24/7 specialist care with a 10-minute target for patient assessments.
• These units are designed to relieve pressure on overcrowded general A&Es and provide a quieter, more supportive setting for individuals in crisis.
• Patients can access the centers via walk-in or referrals from GPs and police, with services including holistic assessments and community care connections.
• The rollout is part of NHS England's forthcoming 10-year plan, supported by £680 million in government funding to expand mental health crisis services.
• The initiative responds to rising mental health-related A&E visits, with 250,000 cases last year and one in three patients waiting over 12 hours for care.