New unit set to transform urgent mental health care experience

Work has started on a brand-new £3.5m urgent response centre in Chester, which will provide improved support to people experiencing a mental health crisis.

Based on the Countess of Chester Health Park, the new unit is an extension to the current Upton Lea community mental health resource centre, run by Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP).

The new urgent mental health response centre will work alongside the Countess of Chester Hospital, North West Ambulance Service and Cheshire Police, reducing the need for people experiencing a mental health crisis to attend A&E.

Suzanne Edwards, CWP deputy CEO and director of operations, said: 

“Our new centre has a dual purpose in providing a specially designed, safe, and calm assessment space for people when they are often at their most vulnerable, and reducing demand on our local emergency department. We know from listening to our patients and carers that if you are experiencing a mental health crisis, a loud and busy A&E department can’t always provide the best patient experience – we hope to change this.”

Whilst people will still need to attend A&E if they have a physical health need, the centre will have purpose built therapeutic assessment rooms and provide access to highly trained mental health nurses, consultant psychiatrists and support workers. The new centre will also provide a new dedicated place of safety for people who require assessment under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act.

Suzanne continues: 

“We are delighted for work to be underway, however this is only one piece of the jigsaw, as we are addressing mental health in our community in so many different ways already. This includes by calling NHS 111 for access to a dedicated local mental health 24/7 crisis line, through crisis cafes, such as Café 71 in Chester or through increased access to NHS Talking Therapies.”

Dave Appleton, head of operations for CWP First Response Service, said: 

“Our ethos is always home or community first. If, however, a face-to-face assessment is required, and this cannot be completed within a person’s home, crisis café or other community setting, the new unit will provide an invaluable therapeutic space.

“Following assessment people may be admitted to one of our specialist mental health inpatient wards for a period of treatment, receive treatment at home or be signposted to other community services including their GP, or specialist agencies who can support with social concerns, such as housing or debt management.”

Set to open early in 2026, the new centre will also become the new permanent home for the West Cheshire GP out-of-hours which is currently operating from the 1829 Building on the Countess of Chester Health Park and provide a new base for the out-of-hours district nursing service and 24/7 mental health crisis line.

CWP is a Foundation Trust that provides health and care services for local people in partnership with other organisations. Our services include mental health and learning disabilities, community physical health and all-age disability care. We have services across Cheshire and Wirral as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton, Liverpool, and Sefton.

CWP was rated as being 'Outstanding' for caring  by the Care Quality Commission in our most recent inspection.

Pictured -  L-R: Dawid Cloete, Construction Director - Read Construction; Amy Padley, CWP Head of Clinical Services for First Response, Andy Reed, CWP Operational Manager for West Cheshire GP Out-of-Hours; Suzanne Edwards, CWP Director of Operations & Deputy CEO, Graham Wood, CWP Capital Projects Manager; Sarah Clarke, CWP Team Manager for the Children and Young People’s Urgent Support Team; Mark Cowpland, Associate Director - Gilling Dodd Architects.