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The Welsh Ambulance Service has launched a new initiative to help people in a mental health crisis.
The Trust’s dedicated mental health response vehicle provides specialist assessment, care and support for people with a mental health emergency who have called 999 and require a face-to-face response, as determined by a senior mental health clinician in the control room.
A senior mental health clinician and emergency medical technician attend in-person and work together to treat a patient’s mental health and physical needs, providing a holistic approach to care.
It is hoped the initiative will help patients get the right care, in the right place, first time, as well as reduce avoidable hospital admissions.
“Nearly all mental health calls to 999 are for or from someone in a crisis.
“Many of these people will have thoughts of suicide or self-harm, and some will have acted on these thoughts.
“Additionally, callers to 999 will be calling about a physical health issue but may also have a mental health condition that needs urgent consideration as a part of their care.
“All of this means that we must respond holistically to people in crisis and requires us to work in an integrated way to meet the needs of callers.“This dedicated resource for people with very specific needs requiring emergency care helps puts us firmly on that path.”
Simon Amphlett, the Trust’s Specialist Clinical Lead for Mental Health
More than 30,000 calls from people in a mental health crisis are made to the Welsh Ambulance Service every year.
Meanwhile, the NHS 111 Wales ‘Press 2’ service for people who require urgent mental health support has received more than 123,000 calls since its inception in October 2022.
After a pilot in the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board area between January and March 2024, funded by the Gwent Regional Partnership Board, the mental health response vehicle is now available seven days a week from 1.00pm-1.00am in south east Wales.
The initiative will be rolled out in other parts of Wales in 2025 following further recruitment.
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