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Closer working between police and health professionals is delivering better service for the public while reducing officer attendance at hospital emergency departments in Lanarkshire.
A collaborative approach between Police Scotland’s Lanarkshire (Q) Division and NHS Lanarkshire to enable 24/7 triage with a Psychiatric Liaison Nurse (PLN) saw potential police attendances at emergency departments reduced by over 80 per cent.
The work was highlighted during a Scottish Police Authority visit to Motherwell Police Station on 13 August, as part of work to ensure people get the compassion, help and support they need and deserve from those best able to provide it.
“We are grateful to colleagues at NHS Lanarkshire who have made this triage service available. It means that those who understandably turn to the police can be put in touch with experts who can give them the help they need and deserve.
“NHS Lanarkshire’s commitment and our closer working with health colleagues has had a massive impact on reducing our attendance at hospital emergency departments – meaning officers are able to tackle threat, harm and risk and prevent crime.”
Chief Superintendent Stevie Dolan, Lanarkshire Divisional Commander.
In 2023, the Community Triage Service in Lanarkshire was used on almost 2,000 occasions. This allowed patients to be triaged over the phone and remain at home or access an appointment for a mental health assessment within an hour.
Importantly, in the vast majority of calls officers did not attend emergency departments, with potential officer attendance reduced by over 80%.
Police Scotland’s Chief Constable Jo Farrell has said policing’s involvement in mental health incidents and supporting vulnerable people is beyond where policing should be and has established a mental health taskforce to co-ordinate work to better balance policing’s involvement.
Chief Superintendent Matt Paden is leading the taskforce and said the work between officers and health colleagues in Lanarkshire was an example of how better outcomes and efficiency can be achieved.
“There are examples of strong local relationships across Scotland and the work in Lanarkshire underlines what can be achieved through collaboration.
“One size doesn’t fit all, however many of the principles demonstrated by this work could be taken forward in other areas and we are providing guidance and support for colleagues to help them to further develop local arrangements. This includes making a guide of Mental Health Index available to officers on their mobile devices to help them ensure people get the help they need and deserve.”
Chief Superintendent Matt Paden.
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