Abingdon mental health hub set to open in town centre.

New signs have been placed on the former Pandora shop on Bury Street ahead of the opening.

The hub will be home to mental health professionals from the NHS, the voluntary sector and people who have experienced mental health challenges themselves.

A series of Keystone Mental Health & Wellbeing Hubs have been opening in high streets across Oxfordshire.

The first hub was opened by former WBC heavyweight champion Frank Bruno at Oxford Stadium late last year.

They will aim to support adults experiencing mental health challenges to thrive among friends, family and their community, drawing on support from the hubs which are linked to their local GP surgeries.

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust described the development as “groundbreaking” in an announcement about the new facility.

Nathan Ley, county councillor for Abingdon North, said: “Others have recently opened in Oxford, and now it’s our turn.

“Mental Health has been a major topic for us on the health scrutiny committee at Oxfordshire County Council, and I’m glad the system-wide push has enabled us to bring this here

“The idea behind this is to transform adult mental health care.”

The hubs are being developed after adults who use mental health services said they would like to see more specialist care available at a local level via their GP surgery.

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 hub 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.

Dr David Chapman, clinical mental health lead for the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board said: “Our priority is to help people with serious and complex mental health illness lead better lives with the support they need.

“Keystone hubs will help these patients by providing them with access to a team of dedicated mental health professionals in their communities across Oxfordshire.

“This new NHS service will also enable GPs to work very closely with health staff in the hubs to ensure their patients receive care and treatment closer to their homes making it easier to get the support they require. 

Tom Hayes, Chief Executive of Elmore Community Services, said: “Third-sector mental health services such as Elmore’s play a crucial role in mental health care, providing support to people with mental ill health closer to their homes and communities.

“Our caseworkers work closely with our NHS colleagues to provide flexible and person-centred support and develop the new Integrated Care Systems and Primary Care Networks.

Work on the hub continues inside as signs have been placed on the outside.

An NHS spokesperson said the hub will be opening “shortly” with a date yet to be announced for its arrival.