The North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT) opens a new 24/7 Mental Health Crisis Assessment Service (MHCAS) at Chase Farm Hospital, expanding access to urgent mental health support for people across Barnet, Enfield and Haringey.

The new service builds on the success of NLFT’s established MHCAS at Highgate, which was the first service of its kind nationally and has been supporting people in crisis for the past five years. The Highgate model has been recognised as best practice, including receiving a Parliamentary Award in 2022, and has helped shape crisis care locally, across London and nationally.

MHCAS provides an alternative to emergency departments for people experiencing a mental health crisis who require urgent assessment and support. The service offers a calm, safe and therapeutic environment focused on recovery, helping people access the right care at the right time and reducing the need for hospital admission where possible.

The Chase Farm service aims to provide faster access to urgent mental health assessment, offer a trauma-informed environment, support collaborative decision-making and help reduce pressure on emergency departments and the London Ambulance Service.

The service is being delivered in partnership with North Middlesex University Hospital, the Royal Free Group and local health and care partners as part of a wider approach to improving crisis care.

NHS 111 (select the mental health option) and local crisis teams remain the main route for accessing urgent mental health support and should be used as the first point of contact.