Polly has welcomed plans for a new Mental Health Emergency Department at the Thanet Mental Health Unit at QEQM Hospital in Margate.
The new unit will provide a dedicated service for people experiencing a mental health crisis, giving residents in Margate and across Thanet access to specialist support in an appropriate setting.
Polly said the investment as an important step forward for local mental health services, particularly for people who need urgent help but do not require treatment in a general A&E department.
The new Mental Health Emergency Department will build on existing services at the Thanet Mental Health Unit, including the Thanet Safe Haven, and will provide a more specialist environment for rapid assessment and support during a mental health emergency.
The Margate facility is one of 59 new Mental Health Emergency Departments being developed across England through a £156 million investment by the government in urgent and emergency mental health care.
Polly said the development represents an important investment in local NHS services and will help ensure that people experiencing a mental health crisis in Thanet can access specialist care closer to home.
The new service will also help connect patients with the appropriate ongoing support, whether through community services, care at home or inpatient treatment.