Improving mental health support across our communities
We are making improvements to our services to strengthen the mental health support available to people across our communities.
Changes to our acute and urgent care pathway - inpatient care, community, acute and crisis services, and crisis alternatives - are intended to provide higher quality and timely support for people so that they get the help they need – the right help, in the right place, at the right time.
By standardising how we work, ensure a consistent offer is available no matter which borough someone lives in, improve physical health care in inpatient settings where there is a co-occurring need, embed trauma informed practice, and improve admissions and safe, timely discharge.
These improvements are not being made in isolation and complement the Trust’s Community Development programme which aims to ensure community services better meet the needs of adults who use our services.
Together these improvements will ensure consistency of care and improved outcomes across all of our services. Whether someone is noticing early signs that something isn’t right, experiencing a crisis, needing a hospital stay, or preparing to return home, we are improving how services connect so that care feels clearer, more compassionate, and easier to access.
We are creating a mental health pathway that is easier to understand, easier to access, and better connected. This means:
- More support in the community
- Clearer crisis options
- Better quality inpatient care
- Faster, more supported discharges
Above all, we want people to feel heard, supported and hopeful at every stage of their mental health journey.
The changes we’re making and what they mean
Early signs something is wrong - reaching out early
“If something feels wrong, reach out early. You don’t need to wait until things get worse.”
Most people first notice mental health difficulties in everyday life. It’s important to seek help early long before things reach crisis point.
What’s available
- Local community and voluntary organisations offering wellbeing support
- Hub of Hope, which lists local and online mental health services
- Support may be available in schools, colleges, workplaces, and community spaces
When you need more help than your GP or community team can offer
“There will be clearer, more supportive places for people to go in crisis day or night without relying on A&E or inpatient admission.”
Sometimes people need more intensive support than community mental health teams can provide. We are expanding options so people can get the right help without automatically going to A&E.
What’s changing
- A new Urgent Treatment Centre (opening in the Autumn of 2026, at the Maudsley Hospital, will offer a calmer, therapeutic space for mental health crisis assessment and support. Offering an alternative to Emergency Departments, the centre will provide immediate access to expert mental health care in a calmer, more therapeutic environment. It will be staffed 24/7 by a multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals, including nurses and occupational therapists, and is designed to ensure people receive faster, more personalised support - the right help, in the right place, at the right time.
- Increased Recovery House provision
When a Hospital Admission Is Needed
“Admission should feel structured and safe, with clear expectations from day one.”
If you need to be admitted, you will receive personalised, high-quality care designed around your safety, dignity and recovery.
What we’re improving
- Trauma informed care, so people feel understood and safe, and services avoid re-traumatising them
- Improved physical health support on wards
- A strengthened PICU pathway for people with the highest level of need
- More evening and weekend activities for inpatients that support confidence, wellbeing and connections to the community
- For those in need of a first-time admission we have created a dedicated ward to respond to the distinct needs of those who need help for the first time.
Leaving hospital and moving forward
“Every admission should have a clear purpose and a clear plan for getting people home, safely and with the right support.”
Discharge works best when admissions are purposeful and planned from the start. We are making it easier for people to leave hospital safely and with the right support. Hospital stays should be purposeful, with a clear plan for getting you home safely and supporting your next steps.