04.05.16
Call for new guidelines as London’s crisis care ‘is in crisis itself’
London’s mental health crisis services are themselves in crisis, doctors have warned as new guidelines for supporting patients are being developed to tackle them.
In a blog post for the NHS, Dr Emma Whicher, medical director at South West & St George’s Mental Health Trust, said that a recent report from the London Health Foundation had warned that crisis care in London “is in crisis itself”.
For example, there are only 23 designated places of safety in the capital where patients in crisis can be detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act, but detentions have increased by 9% in the past two years, so mental health patients have been detained in unsuitable accommodation such as prison cells and hospital waiting rooms.
Although detentions in police cells are now decreasing, lack of appropriate staff to deal with section 136 detentions remains a problem, with 25% of designated safe spaces having no specialist staff and more than 75% of detentions occur outside working hours, when staff levels are reduced.
Dr Whicher said: “Too often people are not receiving the care they need, when they need it and in the right place. It is only by working together to provide a coordinated multi-agency response that we will be able to support service users in crisis and help them feel safe and supported when they need it most.”
Dr Whicher is clinical lead for the mental health crisis care programme at the Healthy London Partnership (HLP) between the NHS and London’s 32 CCGs.
Later this year, HLP will publish a consistent section 136 pathway and minimum standard of care specification, with engagement from London Ambulance Service, Metropolitan Police, commissioners, staff from acute and mental health trusts, approved mental health professionals and Mind.
HLP has already developed a series of ‘I statements’ from patients designed to set expectations for crisis care. It is conducting research to establish gaps in care and is taking part in a campaign to promote good mental health in the capital.
A recent Mind report warned that three-quarters of people with mental health problems receive no support at all.
(Image c. Dominic Lipinski from PA Wire)
Have you got a story to tell? Would you like to become an NHE columnist? If so, click here.