Mental Health Urgent Care Department helps more than 1,200 people
More than 1,200 people have sought help from an innovative Mental Health Urgent Care Department.
The 24/7 service is the first of its kind in Essex and opened seven months ago on 20 March. It provides urgent care for adults in mid and south Essex who are experiencing a mental health crisis.
Staff ensure patients receive the right care in the right place, whether that’s at home or in hospital, and work closely with community services and charities.
The department is led by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) and staffed by specialist doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals from EPUT, Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, and East of England Ambulance Service.
Dr Milind Karale, Executive Medical Director at EPUT, said: “We know how important it is for patients experiencing mental health crisis to receive care and support quickly and in an environment that best suits their needs.
“We are really pleased with how quickly the Mental Health Urgent Care Department is making a positive difference for patients and their families.
“I am very proud of the staff and colleagues we work with for their outstanding work and compassionate care.
People with lived experience of mental health concerns helped to design the building to ensure it provides a safe, calm and therapeutic environment.
Mark Dale, Lived Experience Lead for Co-Production and Participation, said: “Hospital emergency departments are not always the right place for people in mental health crisis, and it was important to us to create the best environment to give them the specialist care they need.”
Since the service was launched, fewer people in mental health crisis have needed to be admitted to emergency departments at Basildon, Southend and Broomfield hospitals. 
The service has received positive feedback received from patients, families and carers, and clinicians.
Examples of feedback from people who have attended the urgent care department include:
“Very kind and understanding staff. Compassionate and sympathetic during a difficult time.”
“They have all listened and I feel like they understand what I am going through and are compassionate to my situation.”
“They were very compassionate and attentive, especially under the circumstances. They made us all feel safe and listened to.”
The Mental Health Urgent Care Department has been shortlisted for four national awards.
It is a finalist in three categories of The Nursing Times Awards for Critical and Emergency Care Nursing, HRH The Prince of Wales Award for Integrated Approaches to Care, and Nursing in Mental Health. The winners will be announced on 25 October.
It is also a finalist in the Royal College of Nursing Awards for the Mental Health Nursing category. The winner will be announced on 10 November.
Visit Our Services page to find out more about the Mental Health Urgent Care Department and how people living in mid and south Essex can access urgent mental health care.
The Mental Health Urgent Care Department does not replace 999. If you or someone you know is in mental health crisis and requires serious or life threatening emergency mental or physical care, call 999 immediately.