As part of the Urgent and Emergency Care workstream, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust and mental health charity Mind in Cambridgeshire have teamed up to offer a new safe haven for those experiencing a mental heath crisis.

The Sanctuary, which is in Cambridge and open from 6pm until 1am, has been opened to allow people to get practical and emotional support.

Elaine Young, associate director of integration for mental health and community care provider CPFT, said: “We think this a really important step forward to improve care for those who are suffering mental health issues.

“The Sanctuary offers people the chance to take a ‘time out’ in a non-medical environment rather than going to an accident and emergency unit which is not the most suitable place for people to be. If the Sanctuary continues to prove successful, we’ll look to have other similar safe places elsewhere in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.”

Further information on the Sanctuary and other services put in place as part of the Urgent and Emergency Care programme can be found here.