The North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT) has unveiled plans for three ‘community mental health hubs’ in Waltham Forest, Barking & Dagenham, and Redbridge, reports Sebastian Mann, Local Democracy Reporter
A 24/7 community mental health support centre will be open in Waltham Forest in 2028, the NHS has announced.
The North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT) has unveiled plans for three ‘community mental health hubs’ in Waltham Forest, Barking & Dagenham, and Redbridge.
They will provide residents with timely access to mental health support and function as a safe alternative to busy emergency departments, the trust says.
Brid Johnson, NELFT’s chief operating officer, said: “Our new, 24/7 community mental health hubs will provide people with a real alternative to hospital admission with timely and effective support closer to home.
“Over the past 18 months, we have opened several community mental health services and have already seen the positive difference they are making to people’s recovery, wellbeing and experience of care.
“These new hubs will build on that success, helping more people access the right support at the right time in their local community.”
The Waltham Forest and Barking & Dagenham hubs are set to open in 2028, while the third in Redbridge will be up and running by 2030.
NELFT is also working with Barts Health to develop a dedicated mental health crisis assessment service at Whipps Cross Hospital, which the NHS says will create a more appropriate environment for people experiencing a mental health crisis.
It will also help more people access specialist support without attending A&E, where the NHS struggles with the volume of patients.
Calvin Bailey, the Labour MP for Leyton and Wanstead, said more investment in mental health services across east London was “so welcome,” but the “highest standards of safety and accountability” needed to be maintained as they expanded.
The scheme follows the government’s announcement of a £343million investment into mental health facilities across England, which aims to improve access to community-based mental health care and crisis support.
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