Mental Health Triage Service Has Won an Award

A Dyfed Powys Police and Hywel Dda University Health Board partnership project to improve support at incidents for people experiencing mental distress has won an NHS Wales award.

The Mental Health Triage Service scooped the ‘Working Seamlessly Across Organisations’ award, supported by the Welsh Local Government Association.

Detective Superintendent Andrew John, Dyfed Powys Police, said: “This award is great recognition of the hard work and dedication of all the staff involved in this project which aims to improve our response to vulnerable people.

“By working together we are striving to provide an appropriate service to people in mental distress at the earliest opportunity, and provide specific assistance which is tailored to meet their needs.

“We are very proud of this achievement and look forward to continuing to work in partnership and build upon the success to date.”

Libby Ryan-Davies, Hywel Dda UHB Director of Mental Health and Learning Disabilities said: “This award is fantastic for the whole team involved. A lot of hard work and commitment has gone into getting this off the ground.

“Mental health practitioners are working with the police to ensure that people suffering with mental health distress receive the support they need as early as possible.”

The project was launched after concerns had been raised around the increased numbers of people being detained under the mental health act, the high use of police cells as places of safety while they wait for assessment and the time taken to carry out the assessment.

A recent review had shown that 192 people were detained in police custody while waiting to be examined by a doctor, with a further 84 being taken directly to hospital.

Out of the 192, only 8.5% needed to be sectioned and 74% were released home following assessment.

There was a need to improve care so it was decided to bring together a mental health clinician and a police officer to triage 999 calls and respond to people who were suspected of having mental health needs.

The initiative ensures the right help is provided to people and a number of mental health detentions are being avoided.

The initiative has now been expanded into a year-long trial working with a number of organisations, including three local authorities, the Welsh Ambulance Service, mental health experts, substance misuse services and the University of South Wales.