STEPHEN Metcalfe, MP for South Basildon & East Thurrock, recently opened a new £5 million NHS Mental Health Urgent Care Department at Basildon Hospital's campus.

Mr Metcalfe visited the Hospital campus to open a new Mental Health Urgent Care Department and to thank the staff for all the care that they provide.

The £5 million new department is designed to separate people struggling with their mental health from people attending the A&E ward with physical complaints.

This means that people encountering a mental health crisis will have access to a therapeutic space and specialist psychologists.

To create the new department, the Essex Partnership University NHS Trust worked closely with people who had previously experienced mental health crisis services. Mr Metcalfe met the team involved in developing and running the unit.

He said: "It was great to join some of the specialist nurses and psychiatrists at Basildon Hospital and to officially cut the ribbon on the new NHS Mental Health Urgent Care Department.

"It is designed specifically with patients in mind, the 24/7 facility is a calming and reassuring space that can support people during their time of crisis."