Describing the mental health system in Oxfordshire as “in crisis”, Brighouse said the development of Warneford Park was “an opportunity to make sure we have the crisis beds that we desperately need”.
“We need a lot more resource in Oxfordshire,” she said.
“I have seen a lot of people who have put their own lives or the lives of others at risk. The mental health service that they needed hadn’t been available to them.”
A spokesperson for Oxford Health said: “We provide a comprehensive range of mental health services and support across Oxford and Oxfordshire.
“This means that we can individually tailor support appropriately to the needs of individuals and also that people experiencing mental health issues can seek help.
“Our services operate round the clock and are run by committed and experienced professionals.”
The trust also said it worked closely with partner organisations, including Oxfordshire County Council, Thames Valley Police, South Central Ambulance Service and Oxford University Hospitals, “to discuss issues, share data and agree best practice to continually improve the response to people in crisis.”
The county’s joint health overview scrutiny committee will now investigate areas, including accessibility to prevention services, medication and inpatient beds, as well as how public services – like the police and fire service – are being impacted by attending people experiencing a severe mental health episode.