PM Andy Burnham guarantees households ‘assistance is on means’ with greater than 150 new NHS psychological well being centres to open

The shake-up is being billed by the new government as the “biggest redesign of mental health services in a generation” to prevent people reaching a crisis point in the first place

View 4 Images

More than 150 new lifeline NHS mental health centres will open across England from the autumn relieving pressure on overstretched A&Es.

Announcing the shake-up, new Prime Minister Andy Burnham said current services were leaving families under “unbearable strain and piling more pressure on our NHS”.

In an article for The Mirror, he added: “This needs to change. Today, we’re announcing a major expansion of NHS mental health services so people can get help earlier and closer to home.”

Under the plans, the government will massively expand an existing pilot scheme of six round-the-clock community based mental health centres (CMHCs) to 106.

The first opened in Tower Hamlets, east London, in 2025 providing patients, including those with schizophrenia or bipolar, vital support.

People can walk-in seven days a week without an appointment to the centres, which also offer employment and housing advice and have access to a small number of overnight beds.

Some of the community hubs will be new facilities while others will be in libraries, banks and other high street locations, the government said.

‘Biggest redesign of mental health services in a generation’

At the same time, 59 new mental health emergency departments (MHEDs) will provide same-day support for those experiencing a moment of crisis.

The announcement brings the total number of units, which are located within A&E units and work with the police and ambulance services, to 82.

It is being billed by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) as the biggest redesign of mental health services in a generation.

And the aim is that both mental health units will relieve pressure on busy A&Es while preventing people reaching a mental health crisis point in the first place.

Mr Burnham said in statement: “Nobody should be left to struggle with their mental health alone. But every day, thousands of people are waiting months for help, then finding the only door open to them is a busy A&E. These new centres will be a lifeline for so many.”

According to NHS figures, 2.36 million people in England had an open referral with mental health services at the end of May 2026, up from 2.10 million a year earlier and 1.95 million in May 2024.

Last year, The Mirror also reported warnings from nurses that some patients were suffering the “torture” of waiting up to three days in emergency department in “utterly degrading” conditions for a mental health bed.

The Royal College of Nursing said at the time nearly 5,300 mental health patients waited at least 12 hours after a decision had been made to admit them at A&E departments in England last year – up from around 1,000 in 2019.

Previous RCN research also showed a staggering half a million children suffering with mental ill health also attended A&E between 2019 and 2025, with some waiting over 12 hours or even three days.

Writing for The Mirror, Mr Burnham recognised the “profound mental health crisis impacting younger generations”. He said poor mental health was also robbing young people, including the one million not in education, employment or training (Neets) opportunities.

He added: “There are those who are quick to criticise young people today, but that’s never been my way. Our country’s future depends on them – and they will have this government’s support.”

More work to be done

DHSC said the move is the first phase of a wider roll-out set in the 10-year health plan in 2025 and backed by over £343million in funding.

It also forms part of a upcoming mental health strategy in an attempt to reduce the number of people in England reaching crisis point. The strategy will be informed by the independent review into mental health conditions, ADHD and autism, which is expected in the autumn.

RCN Head of Nursing Practice Stephen Jones told The Mirror: “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.”

New Health Secretary, Yvette Cooper, also said: “Too many people are only getting mental health support when they reach crisis point, after struggling for far too long to get the help they need.”

‘Mental health at crisis point’

She added: “These new community mental health centres will help people get support earlier and closer to home, making it easier to get the right care before problems escalate. A

“And when someone does need urgent help, new mental health emergency departments will be able to make sure they are seen quickly by specialist teams in the right setting.

“This is how we can turn the tide on mental ill health – preventing more people from reaching crisis, cutting waits for care, and building an NHS which is there for everyone when they need it”

DHSC said the first facilities are set to open from autumn 2026 while further sites will open from March 2027.

Lynn Perry, Chief Executive at Barnardo’s, said: “The mental health of far too many children and young people is at crisis point. We urgently need to shift focus from response to prevention – helping children and young people get the support they need before reaching crisis point.

“That’s why we welcome the rollout of new mental health centres that are embedded into the neighbourhoods that need them, and hope that the needs of children and young people are placed right at the heart.

“This is an important step towards giving every child and young person the opportunity to grow up healthier, happier and able to thrive, with support that improves outcomes for life.”