Residents in Ealing who arrive at A&E in a mental health crisis are to be offered an alternative to waiting in emergency departments, after a new round-the-clock assessment service opened at West Middlesex Hospital in nearby Isleworth.
The Lakeside Mental Health Crisis Assessment Service (MHCAS), run by West London NHS Trust, is intended to act as a “front door” for people needing urgent mental health support, offering specialist assessment and short-stay care in what the trust described as a calmer, therapeutic setting than A&E.
Backed by more than £4m of investment, the new service for Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham residents, will be staffed by specialist mental health professionals and is expected to support thousands of people a year. The trust said it aimed to intervene earlier when people were in crisis and reduce the number of patients waiting in A&E.
Patient stays will last between 12 to 24 hours. The unit will initially accommodate four to six patients, expanding to eight to 12, with further capacity due by autumn 2026.
Dr Nick Hipkins, a consultant psychiatrist and clinical lead for Lakeside, said: “Our clinical approach is holistic and recovery-focused, aiming to provide timely, compassionate care that not only supports people in the moment but also helps prevent the escalation of mental illness.” He added that the service could act as ‘a vital pressure release valve’ for A&E departments.
Sonya Clinch, clinical director for acute mental health services at West London NHS Trust said: “The Lakeside Mental Health Crisis Assessment Service reflects our deep commitment to delivering high-quality, compassionate care in our local communities while also helping to ease pressure on A&E departments and other frontline services.”
