The new Welsh Ambulance Service initiative helping people in a mental health crisis
14.11.24
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.
Simon Amphlett, the Trust’s Specialist Clinical Lead for Mental Health, said: “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.”
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.
Simon said: “For 24-hour support, 111 Press 2 service is a fantastic source of support if you need to talk to a mental health professional in your area urgently about your mental health, or you’re concerned about a family member.
“The new mental health response vehicle initiative, meanwhile, is for patients whose condition is so serious or life-threatening that it requires a face-to-face response, as determined by a senior mental health clinician in our control room.
“The attending senior mental health clinician and emergency medical technician then draw upon their respective skillsets to provide specialist support to patients experiencing a mental health crisis.
“The idea is to treat these patients at home, in the community or through specialist mental health support and our staff work in partnership with mental health practitioners elsewhere in NHS Wales to provide the best possible support to anyone going through mental health distress.”
Liam Williams, Executive Director of Quality and Nursing at the Welsh Ambulance Service, added: “Demand for mental health services is growing across the whole of Wales, and the Covid-19 pandemic had significant and long-lasting impacts on people’s wellbeing.
“The NHS, social care, the voluntary sector and other agencies have to work closer than ever before if we are to respond well to the challenges ahead, and this initiative is a step in that direction.
“With the support of the Welsh Government, we’ve been on an important improvement journey in emergency mental healthcare over the last few years as part of our Mental Health Plan and we have some tangible achievements under our belt.
“We look forward to the difference that this latest initiative can make, especially as we head into the challenging winter period.”
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.
Pictured (L-R): Simon Amphlett, Specialist Clinical Lead for Mental Health, Nigel Williams, Emergency Medical Technician, Dave Fleming, Senior Mental Health Clinician, and Emma Powderhill, Senior Mental Health Clinician.