New Mental Health Emergency Department in Bristol

 

Plans have been confirmed for a new dedicated Mental Health Emergency Department at Callington Road Hospital in Bristol.

The new department will be developed by Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust, working with Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board.

It follows the national announcement on the expansion of mental health support across England, which plans for 59 specialist emergency departments as well as 100 new community mental health centres across the country.

The Mental Health Emergency Department has a planned completion date of September 2027 and will serve local people by providing:

  • Fast, same‑day specialist support for people experiencing a mental health crisis.
  • An alternative to Emergency Departments for mental health presentations not requiring urgent physical health care, reducing unnecessary hospital attendances, and improving patient experience.
  • A calm, therapeutic, safe and thoughtfully designed environment, including outdoor space, to support those in distress located with existing mental health services.
  • Rapid assessment and onward care, ensuring people are connected quickly to the right support – whether that’s inpatient treatment, home‑based care, or community services.
  • Closer working with ambulance, police and other partners, reducing pressure on busy emergency departments and improving patient experience.
  • A major step forward in ensuring people get the right care in the right place, as early as possible.

The development builds on work already underway locally to strengthen mental health crisis support, improve access to care and help people receive support earlier and closer to home.

It represents a major step forward in how local people are supported in crisis and will provide a calmer, safer and more therapeutic environment, ensuring people receive the right care in the right place as quickly as possible.

By redesigning the way urgent mental health support is delivered, health and care partners can improve people’s experience at their most vulnerable moments and strengthening the immediate help available to them.

Further details on timelines, operational arrangements and engagement opportunities will be shared as the programme develops.