Ruth welcomes new community mental health support unit at Lakeside in Isleworth

Ruth Cadbury MP has welcomed the news that new mental health services will open across the country, including a new service at the Lakeside mental health unit (on the grounds of west Mid hospital)

This is one of 159 across England with these centres designed to catch problems early, to support people reaching crisis and to reduce the pressure on the hospital A&E service. This includes 100 new community mental health centres, offering walk-in support without a referral and without a months-long wait, and 59 dedicated mental health emergency departments giving people in crisis specialist care in a place designed for them.  Lakeside will be an emergency mental health department.

Demand for mental health services has risen sharply, particularly among children and young people, with around one in five people experiencing a common mental health condition each year. Too often, people only receive support once they reach crisis point, leaving families without the help they need and placing greater pressure on NHS services.

The Lakeside centre will make it easier for adults to get the right help the first time they ask for it, by bringing mental health and specialist teams together under one roof – working alongside GPs, councils, the voluntary sector and families, with direct links into housing and employment support.

Commenting on this announcement Ruth Cadbury MP said,

‘‘I am really pleased that we have a new mental health emergency care centre here in Isleworth. I have long campaigned for better mental health support locally and this unit at Lakeside will make a big difference.  People struggling with their mental health will get help earlier and closer to home.’’

‘‘As a constituency MP I have increasingly seen the impact that a lack of early and adequate mental health support can have. Whether it’s improving early diagnosis, increasing access to talking therapies and treatment or expanding emergency support, I know how important it is that we improve mental health support across our local area.’’

‘‘Having visited both Lakeside and West Mid several times I also know how hard NHS staff work to look after people and how much pressure existing NHS services are under.

‘‘That’s why this new unit and the work being done to improve mental health support in schools and improve the recruitment and retention of staff will make a much-needed difference.’’