Fleur Anderson Welcomes Funding for Mental Health Emergency Unit
Facility at St. George's Hospital is part of a nationwide programme
The new unit will be as close as possible to the existing A&E at St. George's
August 21, 2026
Fleur Anderson MP for Putney has welcomed the introduction of a new mental health emergency department at St George’s Hospital, part of a nationwide programme to transform access to urgent mental health care. The service will be one of 59 specialist mental health emergency departments being rolled out across England by the government, backed by £156 million of investment.
The new department will give people experiencing a mental health crisis access to dedicated support in a calm, purpose-built environment, rather than requiring them to wait in a busy A&E. It forms part of a wider £343 million programme to redesign adult mental health services, including the creation of 100 community mental health centres offering walk-in support without a referral.
Demand for mental health services has risen sharply in recent years, with many people only receiving help once they reach crisis point. The Government’s plan aims to shift the system towards prevention, ensuring people can access support earlier and closer to home while still providing rapid specialist care when urgent intervention is needed.
Fleur Anderson said the new department at St George’s would make a significant difference for residents in her constituency. She said that having a dedicated mental health emergency service “will mean people in our area can get specialist care in a setting designed for them, rather than having to wait in a busy A&E.” She described the announcement as an important step towards treating mental health with the same urgency as physical health, emphasising the need for early support as well as crisis care.
Health and Social Care Secretary Yvette Cooper said the new centres and emergency departments would help people get the right support before problems escalate, while ensuring those in crisis are seen quickly by specialist teams.
An initial £1.9 million has been secured to get the plans moving, that will be developed with local NHS partners including South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, with their specialist mental health teams providing the staff.
It will be located as close as possible to St George’s existing Emergency Department, so people can get to the right place quickly and easily. It should also help to reduce pressure on our emergency services, including the number of people waiting in corridors.
Mat Shaw, St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group (gesh) Chief Executive, said, “Record numbers of patients are being treated in our emergency departments and – on some occasions – half of those in our care don’t have physical injuries but are in mental health crisis.
“We know that a stressful A&E department is not the right place for people in crisis so this vital investment will enable us to treat people in a more suitable environment with dedicated, specialist mental health support.”
The next stage of national funding approval is expected in October 2026, with the funding due to be invested by March 2028.
The Government currently operates six community-based mental health centres and 23 mental health emergency departments. The new programme will expand this significantly, with £187 million allocated for the initial 100 community centres and £156 million for the first wave of emergency departments.
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