East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust, and Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) have welcomed the national commitment to fund more mental health crisis centres across the country.
Since the launch of the Hertfordshire Mental Health Urgent Care Centre (MHUCC) on the Lister Hospital site last year, hundreds of individuals in acute mental distress have used the service, offering immediate, specialist care in a calm, therapeutic setting—an alternative to the often busy and over-stimulating environment of a hospital emergency department. Designed for adults experiencing severe mental health challenges, such as suicidal thoughts or extreme anxiety, the MHUCC operates on a walk-in basis with no appointment required. People are seen quickly by trained mental health professionals, reducing pressure on A&E departments and helping to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions.
Karen Taylor, Chief Executive at Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“Most of us can’t imagine what it’s like to be in a mental health crisis but it’s often a really distressing and overwhelming time. That’s why it’s so important to have a calm place where people can get help straight away. When we launched in 2024 this was a new way of working. As we’ve grown the service, we’ve supported over 1200 people through our mental health urgent care centre and we’re seeing every day how getting the right support, in the right place, as early as possible can make a real difference to people’s lives.”
Since becoming fully operational in early 2025, the centre has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with nearly all attendees rating their care as good or excellent. One family member praised the service, saying: “You made her feel safe at a time when she could have felt very confused and frightened.”
Adam Sewell-Jones, Chief Executive, East and North Hospital Teaching NHS Trust, said:
“The mental health urgent care centre has made a real difference to patients in crisis and is a great example of the NHS working to join up and improve services. It allows patients to receive urgent care away from the emergency department – and to be seen by specialist mental health clinicians at the right time. Since opening, the mental health urgent care centre has supported over 500 patients from the Lister emergency department who have been able to benefit at a time when they are most in need.”
For more information about the urgent care centre and other mental health support services in Hertfordshire, visit http://www.hpft.nhs.uk/get-help.
