A brand-new, purpose-designed mental health centre has officially opened its doors in Birmingham, providing round-the-clock access to vital support for thousands of residents across the city. The Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (BSMHFT) has taken possession of the Neighbourhood Mental Health Centre located on Golden Hillock Road, marking a significant advancement in local healthcare provision.
A New Chapter for Community Mental Health Support
This development represents a fresh start for the service, which has transitioned from its temporary base at the Omnia GP Practice to the newly renovated facility. The centre occupies the former Ghamkol Sharif Education Centre, with redevelopment work now fully completed by HB Birmingham in partnership with the Ghamkol Sharif Charity. Patients have already begun moving into the modern, fully accessible premises.
Comprehensive Support Services Available
The centre offers an extensive range of mental health services designed to meet diverse community needs. A multidisciplinary team comprising psychiatrists, therapists, nurses, and peer support workers will deliver immediate assistance to adults experiencing mental health difficulties. The facility provides crucial crisis support, short-stay residential beds, and community outreach programmes, ensuring person-centred care is available whenever required.
Since its initial opening in early 2025, the service has already supported more than 1,000 adults, demonstrating the substantial local demand for accessible mental health resources. The new purpose-built centre enables the expansion of these services to operate twenty-four hours a day, significantly enhancing support availability for residents of Small Heath, Heartlands, and Bordesley Green.
Purpose-Designed Facilities and Collaborative Partnerships
The centre features six comfortable bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, a welcoming lounge and dining area, a dedicated meditation and prayer room, and a reception area – all designed with accessibility and diverse needs in mind. Furthermore, the service operates in close collaboration with thirteen voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations to deliver its comprehensive support network.
Vanessa Devlin, Executive Director of Operations at BSMHFT, expressed her enthusiasm about the new facility: "We are delighted to officially have the keys to our new 24/7 Neighbourhood Mental Health Centre. This milestone marks a new chapter for the service and the community, building on the success of the past year."
"Working with our VCFSE partners we hope to support hundreds more local people with their mental health. Our new purpose-built, wonderful centre allows us to extend the support to 24 hours per day and ensures we continue to provide compassionate, accessible care in a welcoming environment, alongside our community partners," she added.
Enhanced Patient Engagement and Information Access
BSMHFT is actively encouraging service users to engage with digital resources to better manage their care. The trust recommends that patients visit its website to determine whether their postcode falls within the centre's catchment area. Additionally, service users are encouraged to register for the trust's dedicated Patient Portal, which operates separately from the NHS App.
This portal provides secure access to essential healthcare information, including:
- Letters from care teams
- Personalised care plans
- Detailed appointment information
Patients can sign in using their NHS login credentials at patientportal.bsmhft.nhs.uk, enabling them to stay fully informed and actively involved in their treatment journey. This initiative represents a significant step forward in promoting patient autonomy and improving communication between healthcare providers and service users.
