London’s NHS mental health trusts have agreed a shared plan to reduce, and often avoid, the need for people in mental health crisis to go to A&E.

Speaking to the Health Service Journal (HSJ), our Chief Executive, Claire Murdoch, called it a “major milestone for the mental health sector”.

The new city‑wide blueprint for mental health crisis assessment services (MHCAS) is being led by CNWL and North London NHS Foundation Trust, with backing from NHS mental health providers in the capital.

The model recognises that A&E isn’t always the right place for someone in crisis. People can face long waits, overstimulating surroundings, and delays in getting specialist support. Instead, 24/7 MHCAS centres offer rapid assessment, immediate support and clear next steps. And where people are physically well, can remove the need for an A&E visit altogether.

By setting out a single, shared blueprint, London is moving away from a patchwork of local approaches towards a consistent offer that frontline partners – including the police, ambulance service and local authorities – can rely on.

London plans to have 12 centres in place by 2029, aligned with the NHS 10 Year Health Plan. Some are already delivering results. CNWL’s MHCAS at St Charles Hospital, open since 2022, supported more than 1,500 people last year. Of those, 85% avoided hospital admission, and 743 A&E attendances were prevented.

The MHCAS model has been developed collaboratively with mental health and acute trusts, integrated care boards, local authorities, the Metropolitan Police, London Ambulance Service and the Care Quality Commission. Crucially, it has also been co‑produced with people who have lived experience of mental health crisis.