Barnet to host one of 31 new London mental health hubs
The community centre will offer walk-in support without referral as part of a national redesign of mental health services
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Barnet will host one of 30 new community mental health hubs planned across London, the Department of Health and Social Care announced on 29 July 2026. The hub will offer walk-in support for residents without the need for a referral, aiming to reduce waits for mental health care.
The announcement forms part of a national redesign of mental health services, described by the Department of Health and Social Care as the "biggest in a generation". Across England, 100 community hubs and 59 dedicated mental health emergency departments will open, though no specific funding figures were provided.
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Where the hubs will be located
In London, the hubs will be spread across 30 boroughs, including Barnet, Wandsworth, Croydon, Lambeth, Newham, and Camden. A further hub will operate in Luton, run by the East London NHS Foundation Trust. The exact site for Barnet’s hub has not yet been confirmed.
Health and Social Care Secretary Yvette Cooper said the centres would help people access support earlier, preventing crises. "Too many people are only getting mental health support when they reach crisis point, after struggling for far too long to get the help they need," she said, as reported by *The Standard*.
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“These new community mental health centres will help people get support earlier and closer to home, making it easier to get the right care before problems escalate.”
Yvette Cooper, Health and Social Care Secretary
Emergency departments for mental health
Alongside the hubs, nine new mental health emergency departments will open at London hospitals. These include existing sites such as Northwick Park Hospital, the Royal London Hospital, and the Maudsley Hospital near King’s College Hospital. One new site will be established at St George’s Hospital in Wandsworth.
The emergency departments are intended to provide specialist care for those in crisis, reducing pressure on general A&E departments. The Department of Health and Social Care said the move would ensure patients are seen quickly by teams trained in mental health.
What happens next for Barnet residents
The timeline for the Barnet hub’s opening remains unclear. The Department of Health and Social Care has not specified when construction or staffing will begin, nor has it confirmed whether the hub will occupy an existing site or a new location.
Residents seeking mental health support can continue to use existing services, including NHS talking therapies and crisis lines, until the new hub is operational. The council has not yet issued a statement on how the hub will integrate with local services.
Questions this report answers
+Where will Barnet’s new mental health hub be located?
The exact location of Barnet’s new community mental health hub has not been confirmed. The Department of Health and Social Care announced it as one of 30 hubs planned across London, but no site details have been released yet.
+When will the Barnet mental health hub open?
The timeline for the Barnet hub’s opening is unclear. The Department of Health and Social Care has not provided a start date for construction or staffing, so residents should continue using existing services for now.
+What services will the new mental health hub offer?
The hub will offer walk-in mental health support without the need for a referral. It aims to provide earlier intervention for residents in crisis, reducing waits for specialist care, as announced by the Department of Health and Social Care.
+How many mental health emergency departments will open in London?
Nine new mental health emergency departments will open at London hospitals, including sites at Northwick Park, the Royal London, and the Maudsley. One additional department will open in Luton, run by the East London NHS Foundation Trust.
Barnet Press News Desk
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