Welcome to our latest news in brief, where we take a closer look at some of the news stories to have caught our eye over the last few weeks.
£343 million plan to expand community mental health support across England
The UK government has designated £343 million to the expansion of community mental health support services, with up to 159 new NHS mental health centres to open from Autumn 2026. In particular, the funding will support the development of 59 new mental health emergency departments offering same-day specialist support for those in crisis.
Trusts are being allocated £156 million for the 59 new emergency departments, with £187 million allocated for the initial 100 new community-based mental health centres, the government explains. Locations include Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, The Royal London Hospital, Chesterfield Royal Hospital, and Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham.
Yvette Cooper, health and social care secretary, said: “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. And when someone does need urgent help, new mental health emergency departments will be able to make sure they are seen quickly by specialist teams in the right setting.”
Somerset ICB seeks £1 million digital mental health and emotional wellbeing service for children and young people
Somerset ICB has published a contract notice outlining its intent to procure a digital mental health and emotional wellbeing service for children and young people, at a total estimated cost of £1 million.
The service should help improve access to timely emotional wellbeing support, and help promote early intervention and prevention, according to the ICB.
The proposed duration is a total of 84 months, with the service set to begin on 1 April 2027. Tenders should be received by 9 September 2026 at 12pm, the ICB outlines.
Wearable devices linked to sensors help support independence for those with complex care needs at Midlands Partnership University
A high intensity team from Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust is utilising digital technologies including wearable devices and a smartphone app to support people with complex health and care needs.
Patients who have had multiple hospital stays over the last 12 months wear a device linked to sensors installed in their own home, to help staff identify changes in their health that could potentially lead to a serious incident like a fall, the trust shares.
To date, the programme has supported 105 patients, enabling the provision of early support, and reportedly preventing “hundreds” of potential hospital admissions, whilst supporting patients in staying independent at home. Team lead Gail Lowe shared how the use of the devices is allowing the team to identify changes to patients’ normal behaviour, helping deliver “significant outcomes which have benefitted the team and, most importantly, our patients”.
Patients invited to access records and outpatient appointments via the NHS App at North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare
Patients at North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare are being invited to access their patient records, outpatient appointments, letters, care plans, and online forms via the NHS App, thanks to a new feature linking the app with the trust’s PatientAide portal.
Eligible patients over the age of 16 will be invited via text message, and will be able to use the service through their existing NHS App login, the trust shares. It notes that this is intended to offer service users more choice and control over their care.
New technology to ease anxiety during MRI scans introduced at Scunthorpe Hospital
Scunthorpe Hospital has introduced new technology to help ease anxiety for patients undergoing MRI scans, thanks to £31,500 from The Health Tree Foundation.
The Nordic InVision system is designed to support patients who suffer from claustrophobia, enabling them to watch TV, listen to music, and benefit from customisable lighting and immersive sound, Northern Lincolnshire and Google NHS Foundation Trust shares. The technology has reportedly already been put to use in the hospital’s MRI department.
James Paget University Hospitals celebrates “successful” first year of da Vinci X surgical robot
James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is celebrating the “successful” first year anniversary of its da Vinci X surgical robot, with more than 225 general surgery operations and 110 gynaecological cases undertaken with assistance from the system.
The trust reports positive feedback from patients, noting reduced recovery times and less chance of complications, sharing plans to increase the number of cases involving the system in the future.
