News

People experiencing a mental health crisis across Kent and Medway will benefit from improved access to timely, specialist support following new investment in local mental health services.
 
The funding will help strengthen the wider urgent and emergency mental health care pathway, enabling more people to receive assessment and support in an environment that is appropriate to their clinical needs.
 
The investment will support enhanced mental health crisis assessment and care linked to Medway Maritime Hospital, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital and William Harvey Hospital. It will build on existing services, including Safe Havens, mental health crisis teams and specialist mental health support within emergency departments.
 
The development will help create a more joined-up pathway through which people experiencing a mental health crisis can be rapidly assessed and directed to the most appropriate support. Depending on an individual's needs, this may include crisis assessment and brief intervention, support through a Safe Haven, intensive home treatment, community follow-up or care within an emergency department or hospital setting.
 
People who also have urgent physical-health needs will continue to receive assessment and treatment through emergency departments, with specialist mental health support provided alongside their physical healthcare where required.
 
Safe Havens are an important part of Kent and Medway's crisis response. They provide welcoming and supportive environments for people experiencing emotional distress, offering immediate support, practical advice and help to access other services. The new investment will enable Safe Havens to work as part of a strengthened and more integrated urgent and emergency mental health pathway.
 
By improving access to specialist assessment and creating alternatives to an emergency-department environment where clinically appropriate, the programme aims to improve people's experience of care, support earlier intervention and reduce avoidable pressure on hospital emergency services.  This builds on Kent and Medway's existing community and hospital-based mental health provision and reflects the wider commitment to ensuring people can access timely, compassionate and clinically appropriate mental health care, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Kate Langford, chief medical officer at NHS Kent and Medway, said:

“We welcome this investment, which will allow us to strengthen the whole urgent and emergency mental health care pathway across Kent and Medway.

“Our priority is to ensure that people experiencing a mental health crisis can access specialist help quickly, in the right environment and according to their individual needs.

“Safe Havens will remain an important part of that response, alongside our crisis teams, hospital-based mental health services and community support. By bringing these elements together more effectively, we can improve people's experience of care and help them receive the most appropriate support as early as possible.

“Emergency departments will continue to play an essential role for people who also require urgent physical-health assessment or treatment. This investment will complement those services by providing more appropriate alternatives for people whose primary need is urgent mental health assessment and support.”

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Trust acting Chief Executive, Des Holden said: “We welcome the additional funding for new dedicated mental health provisions at William Harvey Hospital, and also at the Thanet Mental Health Unit, Margate on the QEQM hospital site.

They will be run by our mental health partners, providing east Kent patients with same-day specialist care, and must be seen as a positive step towards parity of esteem for mental health assessment and treatment.

This is a good example of integrated, partnership working for the benefit of our local communities.”

Siobhan Callanan, interim chief executive of Medway NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We welcome this significant investment in mental health services for Kent and Medway.

“We know that mental health is just as important as physical health. By providing an alternative to our busy emergency department where appropriate, we can improve the experience for patients and help ensure they are seen by the right professionals, in the right place, at the right time.

“We look forward to working closely with our mental health partners across Kent and Medway to bring this important service to patients."

Dr Afifa Qazi, Chief Medical Officer for Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust, said: "We are delighted that Kent and Medway will benefit from a three dedicated mental health emergency department. This is great news for local people and a significant step forward for mental health crisis care.
 
When someone is experiencing a mental health crisis, it is vital that they can access the right support quickly, in an environment designed to meet their needs. This investment will help more people receive compassionate, specialist care at the point they need it most, while ensuring people can access the right help in the right place and supporting more people to live well in their communities."