Publish date: 5 December 2023
West London NHS Trust has today opened the Ealing Crisis Centre (ECC), a health facility designed to provide crucial psychological therapies and support to the local community in Ealing.
Nestled on the St. Bernard’s site next to Ealing Hospital, this innovative centre will play a pivotal role in delivering timely and tailored care to individuals facing mental health crisis, at a time when demand on NHS mental health services is at an all-time high.
The ECC offers an alternative crisis intervention to individuals who would otherwise have waited several hours in emergency departments for the urgent interventions they need.
Supported by a multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, and support workers, individuals will be offered a range of biopsychosocial interventions in a more therapeutic environment compared to that currently offered in busy emergency departments (A&E).
- This provides more time to better connect with individuals and make clinical decisions that are more tailored to their needs.
- The ECC unit does not have beds, instead using recliner chairs to deliver treatment. As a pilot service, capacity is limited to 5 patients at a time.
- The service is open 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, and aims for a length of stay of between 2 and 12 hours, and a target maximum stay of 48 hours
Dr Vincent Law, Clinical Director for Psychological Medicine services at West London NHS Trust expressed his enthusiasm for the ECC's opening:
"The launch of the Ealing Crisis Centre demonstrates our unwavering commitment to providing accessible and high-quality mental health support. We understand the challenges faced by individuals in our community, and the ECC will make a significant impact by offering a range of services to meet those needs."
A notable feature of the ECC is its emphasis on collaboration with service users, promoting a person-centred approach to care. By involving individuals in their treatment plans, the centre aims to empower them on their journey to recovery. Additionally, the ECC places a strong emphasis on cultural competence, acknowledging and respecting the diverse backgrounds and faiths of its service users.