Three new 24-hour Community Mental Health Hubs are planned for north east London, providing people experiencing a mental health crisis with support closer to home.
North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) says new hubs will be developed in Waltham Forest and Barking and Dagenham, with both expected to open in 2028. A third facility is planned for Redbridge, with completion expected in 2030.
Operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the hubs will provide safe community settings where residents can access mental health support as an alternative to busy hospital emergency departments.
Teams will also work with patients to provide immediate support which could allow them to remain within the community rather than being admitted to hospital where appropriate.
Expanding crisis support
The plans were highlighted during a visit by Leyton and Wanstead MP Calvin Bailey to NELFT’s existing Mental Health Crisis Assessment Hub at Goodmayes Hospital in Ilford.
Mr Bailey said he had seen first-hand the difference community-based support could make to people experiencing a crisis and welcomed further investment in mental health services across the region.
He also stressed the importance of maintaining high standards of safety and accountability as services expand.
NELFT is separately working with Barts Health NHS Trust on a dedicated Mental Health Crisis Assessment Service at Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone. The service aims to provide a more appropriate environment for people experiencing a mental health crisis and reduce the need for patients to attend A&E for specialist support.
At Goodmayes Hospital in Ilford, NELFT is also investing in an enhanced care space for children and young people with complex mental health needs.
Building on existing services
Brid Johnson, Chief Operating Officer at NELFT, said the new hubs would offer people an alternative to hospital admission by providing timely support closer to home.
The Trust has expanded its community mental health provision since 2025, including opening Well House crisis accommodation and the Redbridge Recovery Hub in the London Borough of Redbridge.
Other services include the 24/7 Mental Health Crisis Assessment Hub at Goodmayes Hospital in Ilford and the Waltham Forest Beacon, which provides free drop-in mental health support.
St George’s Health and Wellbeing Hub in Hornchurch, Havering, opened in 2024 and brings together a range of health and community services, including mental health support.
The expansion follows the Government’s announcement of £343 million of investment in mental health facilities across England, aimed at improving access to community-based care and crisis support.