The
NHS
plans to establish a chain of ‘peaceful and hospitable’ mental health emergency departments throughout England to assist patients experiencing crises.
Specialist teams will provide round-the-clock care to alleviate pressure on hospitals and emergency services that are already overburdened.
Approximately 250,000 individuals visited the emergency department last year because of a mental health crisis, and roughly one-fourth of them had to wait for more than 12 hours.
Lengthy delays and what’s known as the ‘corridor care’ crisis at major hospitals have reportedly resulted in numerous preventable fatalities.
The medical staff, including doctors and nurses, at these newly established psychiatric emergency departments will assist individuals dealing with suicide risks or exhibiting conditions like psychosis or manic episodes.
Individuals can visit these centers directly or get referred by their doctor or law enforcement.
It has been reported that the A&E departments will be structured to offer a ‘tranquil and compassionate setting,’ instead of the ‘din and turmoil’ typically found in bustling emergency centers.
For instance, a facility that has already launched in Ladbroke Grove, West London, features two ’emotional support dogs’ that snuggle with patients.
Assorted fresh fruits, cookies, tea, and coffee along with additional refreshments are provided for visitors who stop by.
Sir Jim Mackey, who leads NHS England as its CEO, stated
The Times
Overcrowded emergency departments are not equipped to handle individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.
We must improve, which is why we’re introducing a novel care approach ensuring patients receive appropriate assistance in the proper environment.
In addition to reducing the strain on our overloaded emergency departments, mental health crisis assessment centers can expedite access to suitable care, providing individuals with the support they require more promptly, allowing them to remain outside of the hospital setting.
Ten NHS trusts have already implemented separate psychiatric emergency departments, and the Labor government plans to expand this initiative over the next ten years.
It comes as UK public services have been struggling to cope with a rise in demand from people suffering from mental health issues.
Last year, the Metropolitan Police announced they would cease responding to mental health-related emergencies unless there was an immediate threat to someone’s life.
This initiative aims to allow officers to focus more on their primary duties instead of handling cases that require medical attention from professionals.
However, significant worries were expressed regarding the implications of this policy shift for those who are most at risk and whether it would be feasible in reality.
A representative from the Metropolitan Police stated that the force required action to ‘correct the uneven distribution of accountability,’ highlighting the significant duration these incidents consume.
In 2020, Humberside Police implemented a comparable approach called Right Care, Right Person (RCRP), where mental health experts handle callouts.
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