This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Ground-breaking Keystone Mental Health & Wellbeing Hub to open in Banbury
30/01/2023
Adults experiencing mental health challenges will be able to draw on support from the hub
Banbury is set to get a ground-breaking NHS and community mental health facility. Based at the Castle Quay shopping centre, the £178,000 Keystone Mental Health & Wellbeing Hub is being created in a drive to transform adult mental health care.
The investment comes as part of £150 million of Government funding for the NHS mental health urgent and emergency care services.
The hub will be home to a Primary Care Mental Health Team, including professionals from health and social care and people who have experienced mental health challenges themselves.
Adults experiencing mental health challenges will be enabled to thrive among friends, family and their community, drawing on support from the hub which will be linked to their local GP surgery, NHS mental health services, and third-sector mental health services.
A hub is also set to open n Abingdon. The county’s first Keystone hub was opened by the legendary boxer Frank Bruno MBE at Oxford Stadium last November, serving Blackbird Leys and East Oxford.
Keystone hubs are being developed after adults who use mental health services said they would like to see more specialist care available at local level via their GP surgery, and improved communication between GPs and mental health services and form a core of the strengthening of community mental health services in Oxfordshire.
Clinical Director for Mental Health Services in Oxfordshire at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Dr Rob Bale said: “Just like with long-term physical health challenges, having an ongoing mental health disorder means that over time some people can experience periods of good mental health and periods where they experience more challenging symptoms.
“The hubs will be able to respond dynamically to people’s changing needs – making it easier for people to receive the right mental health support for them at the right time.
“Alongside mental health treatment and care the Primary Care Mental Health Teams will facilitate support for adults in other aspects of their life which can be affected by and exacerbate mental health challenges including relationships, leisure and socialising, accommodation, finances, training and education.”
Banbury’s MP Victoria Prentis said: “I welcome this investment which will ensure that people experiencing – or at risk of experiencing – mental health crises receive greater access to high-quality, tailored support when they need it most.
“It will also go a long way in easing pressures on the NHS as people receive care and support in more appropriate settings outside of A&E.”
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam