15 May 2025

This week, we welcomed a cross-party parliamentary group to our mental health services in Kensington and Chelsea, including Members of Parliament (MP) and staff, as well as representatives from Rethink Mental Illness.

The delegation wanted to visit the Trust to explore mental health care models in advance of next week’s proposed Mental Health Act reforms; a timely discussion that also aligned with Mental Health Awareness Week.

Spotlight on MHCAS

Demand for mental health support has grown significantly since the pandemic, prompting the Trust to expand our services to better meet people’s needs.

CNWL’s Mental Health Crisis Assessment Service (MHCAS), opening in November 2022, is one of nine centres across England. It's open 24/7 and offers a therapeutic setting to treat mental health presentations, providing an alternative to visiting an emergency department.

People in North West London are able to self-refer and walk in, with the service extending to Hammersmith and Fulham in March 2025. MHCAS has played a key role in eliminating out-of-area placements, making us one of the few Trusts in London to achieve this.

Lee Byers, Borough Director for Kensington and Chelsea, highlighted the flexibility of the model, noting its potential for replication across the country. Patients have reported positive experiences so far, with one saying "I was in an A&E for 10 hours but I can now come to the MHCAS knowing I’ll be seen quickly”.

The delegation was received by key leaders from the Trust including Dr Con Kelly (Chief Medical Officer), Dr Gareth Jarvis (Divisional Medical Director), Kim Cox (Divisional Nursing Director) as well as Guy Powell (Deputy Divisional Nursing Director).

The group toured Redwood Ward, one of CNWL’s inpatient mental health wards for older people, where leaders provided an overview of the services at St Charles, emphasising the integration of acute care, intensive care units, older adult wards, and community-based therapies.

The group was keen to hear about the treatment of autistic people and those with a learning disability in mental health hospital settings.

The visiting delegation included:

  • Sojan Joseph, MP for Ashford, Hawkinge and the Villages
  • Laura Kyrke-Smith, MP for Aylesbury
  • Joe Powell, MP for Kensington and Bayswater
  • Jonathan Andrew, Head of Public Affairs at Rethink Mental Illness
  • Elizabeth Bircham, Parliamentary Assistant
  • Chris Bradley, Senior Policy Researcher