Work starts on Stafford's new £4.8m mental health crisis centre

The crisis assessment centre at St George’s Hospital, Stafford is set to open in October

Building work has begun on a new £4.8m mental health crisis assessment centre.

It is set to open in October at St George's Hospital, Stafford and will operate 24 hours a day.

People in serious need will have immediate access to mental health professionals, said Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT).

It will reduce "unnecessary visits" to emergency departments and ensure "timely interventions", it added.

The centre will have two crisis assessment rooms and a place of safety for people detained under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act.

"The new 136 suite will be able to accommodate a child or young person and adult admission at the same time, should this be required," said Jennie Collier from MPFT, which runs St George's Hospital.

In the current suite that was not possible due to its layout, she added.

Crisis assessment centre services are designed to meet people's specific needs so they can be involved in decisions about their care, said MPFT.

Having a safe and supportive environment reduced the risk of self-harm or harm to others, it added.

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