Responding to the announcement of an expansion of NHS mental health services in England, including new mental health A&Es and community mental health centres, RCN Head of Nursing Practice Stephen Jones said:

“Today's announcement must begin to turn the page on a sorry chapter which has seen so many people go without the specialist support they need in the community, only to end up in crisis in loud, bright emergency departments waiting days for essential care. More services closer to people’s homes and new dedicated emergency departments are a crucial step towards more humane care. To succeed, both will need specialist mental health nurses at the centre.

“Improving accessibility to mental health services is crucial to improving people’s quality of life and helping them access things like work and education. With the right investment, including in growing the workforce to deliver an expansion of services, we can also save the NHS money in the long run by bringing down waiting lists and preventing unnecessary hospitalisations.”

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