Accessing support for patients in crisis
Please note that the way to access mental health support in a crisis is not changing – people can continue to do this by dialling NHS111 and selecting option 2 or via our Mental Health Crisis Line on 0800 028 8000.
What’s happening with our mental health crisis services?
We’re reviewing how we provide access to rapid mental health assessment to ensure the best possible care for people when they need it most.
Our goal is to offer easy and responsive access to mental health support when people are in crisis, in the least restrictive setting 24/7, avoiding A&E.
So, working in partnership, we are reviewing our crisis services in two phases:
Phase one: Review of our Coral Mental Health Crisis Hub
Based on the feedback from people with lived experience (who want support closer to home), people in crisis will be assessed at home by our Home Treatment Teams, rather than needing to travel to the Coral Mental Health Crisis Hub.
We’ll do this over 2025/26 by working with our teams to transition the resources from Coral to bolster and enhance our local 24/7 Home Treatment Teams across our five boroughs. And where a home visit isn’t possible, we’ll offer an alternative local venue for assessment.
Phase two: Review of our whole crisis pathway
Between now and December, we will be working with a wide range of patients, carers, health and care professionals and partners, including the emergency services, to develop a set of recommendations for changes to take effect from April 2026/27.
How do I access crisis support now and in the future?
People across our boroughs will continue to access support for themselves or others in the same way, either by dialling NHS111 and selecting option 2 or via our Mental Health Crisis Line on 0800 028 8000. No-one needs to do anything differently.
You can find out more about how to get urgent mental health support on our website.
Why are we reviewing these services?
Right now, too many people are going to A&E when they have a mental health crisis, rather than accessing the support they need directly from our local borough crisis services.
When people do use our crisis services, some are experiencing delays, or not getting the support they need out of hours, or are being assessed more than once by different teams.
We’ve spoken to patients who told us that travelling to a central hub across five boroughs when they are in crisis is challenging – and that care closer to home would be far more supportive.
How can I find out more?
We’ll keep you informed – please keep an eye on our website. For more information, please contact communications@swlstg.nhs.uk.
