More coordinated emergency care and support in the community through specialized mental health ambulances, more crisis services, and improved health-based safe places for anyone experiencing a mental health emergency will benefit from
£150m investment to April 2025 to better support people experiencing or at risk of experiencing a mental health crisis, providing care and support in better settings outside A&E and help ease the pressures facing the NHS.
Patients with mental health issues are twice as likely to spend 12 hours or more in the emergency department than other patients. Some of these patients are admitted to A&E for medical emergencies, but we know that they are often better treated elsewhere.
This funding will enable the procurement of up to 100 new mental health ambulances. This ambulance brings specialist staff directly to the patient to provide on-site support or transfer to the most appropriate point of care.
It will also fund 150 new projects focused on supporting mental health crisis response and the provision of emergency mental health care. New projects include over 20 new or improved health-based safe places that provide safe places for people in police custody, as well as crisis cafes, crisis homes, and other similar Includes over 30 plans that provide safe locations. Improvements to the NHS 111 and emergency telephone lines will also be deployed.
In the midst of a difficult winter, the government is doing everything it can to ease the pressure on the NHS, especially the A&E, by ensuring that people receive the care they need in the most suitable settings. .
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:
People at risk of mental health should receive compassionate care in a safe and appropriate environment. Too often we end up at A&E when we need professional treatment elsewhere.
This vital funding will reduce pressure on emergency departments, freeing up staff time and ensuring they get the help they need. This is a very important task for the government this winter. ”
Health and Social Services Secretary Steve Berkley said:
Health systems face significant challenges this winter due to rising flu, ongoing COVID-19, and the impact of the pandemic, and the need to ensure people continue to receive appropriate professional care. there is.
These dedicated facilities ensure that patients experiencing a mental health crisis receive the care they need in an appropriate manner, freeing up staff availability, including within the A&E department.
Together with up to 100 new mental health ambulances, these schemes will give patients across the country greater access to quality, coordinated support when they need it most. ”
The new ambulance has been designed to offer a more soothing environment, avoiding the bright yellow interiors of traditional NHS ambulances in favor of simple NHS service logos, dimmable lighting, and an ambiance that family and friends can appreciate while they are evaluating it. We are using the space to accompany the patient. They are backed by £7m government funding.
The remaining £143m of funding announced in the 2021 Expenditure Review will go towards 150 new projects. Invest in providing and improving a range of spaces to support people experiencing or at risk of experiencing a mental health crisis. This includes new mental health emergency assessment and care centers, redesign and renovation of existing mental health suites and facilities, including emergency departments, creating space outside A&E, and expanding crisis lines.
Planned projects are spread across the country, with 150 schemes supporting broader government commitments to raise the bar on mental health and well-being across the country, including in the UK’s most disadvantaged local government areas. I’m here.
The program will also focus on preventive measures such as improving sanctuary spaces to improve mental health and community mental health facilities working to help people before they reach crisis situations.
It builds on existing plans to improve mental health services. We will invest at least £2.3bn additional funding annually by April 2024 to scale up and transform England’s mental health services, ensuring that a further 2 million people have the mental health support they need. .
All regions now have 24/7 NHS open access emergency mental health helplines. The helpline currently receives approximately 200,000 calls per month, with only 1-2% reportedly being redirected to 999 or A&E. In communities, NHS mental health support teams are being deployed in schools and colleges to provide early mental health support to children and young people, with a target of reaching 35% of students by the end of this year. to
This is because the government has pledged to increase spending on mental health to 8.9% of all NHS funding.
NHS Mental Health Director Claire Murdoch said:
Despite the disruption caused by the pandemic, the NHS is on track to meet its long-term plan commitment to increase spending on mental health by £2.3 billion annually, with around 4.5 million adults and more than 700,000 young people in mental health care. Allowing access to services.
The NHS is not only expanding capacity to meet record demand, but also transforming mental health services so that people receive better care when they contact them. Bringing emergency and emergency mental health care to more people who need it.
So if you need help don’t hesitate to contact the NHS so you can get the care you need. ”
Olly Parker, YoungMinds Head of External Affairs, said:
We welcome further investment in how young people can access support and hope that this will help in some way to ensure an appropriate environment for those experiencing mental health crises.
Ultimately, we want to prevent young people from falling into crisis in the first place and improve their access to early support. We are therefore excited to announce the government’s long-term commitment to mental health and put young people at the center of it. ”
Dr Adrian James, President of the Royal Psychiatric Society, said:
We are pleased to see the new £150m government funding for mental health services. With record levels of referrals reached over the past year, the pressure on crisis management is immense. We welcome investments to build and improve 150 new services that support those most in need in some of the most disadvantaged communities.
It’s clear that more needs to be done to reach out to people as soon as possible. The concept of bespoke emergency care is positive and we are pleased to see her investment in 100 new specialty psychiatric ambulances staffed by both physical and mental health care professionals.
While this will help alleviate some of the pressure in the system, it must be remembered that this is a difficult time for everyone as the cost of living crisis adds to this and the demand for mental health services continues to grow. . ”
Background
- As Minister Maria Caulfield announced today, government mental health spending is expected to increase in the next financial year, accounting for 8.92% of total recurring spending.
- The government is investing £150m in capital in NHS mental health crisis response and emergency and emergency care services by April 2025. Improve new and existing mental health crisis response infrastructure. This includes schemes such as Crisis Cafe, Crisis House and Crisis Hub. Step-down services, mental health emergency assessment and care centers, crisis line upgrades, and improved health-based safe areas and emergency department spaces are also being funded.
- Crisis cafes, etc. (safe havens, sanctuaries, etc.) provide safe and supportive spaces for people experiencing or facing a mental health crisis. They can act as a substitute for her A&E and support people in the community. Crisis Houses offer more focused yet community-based support, including accommodation for people facing mental health crises.
