SERVICES and organisations across Thurrock, Essex and Southend have developed an action plan for improving the care for people in a mental health crisis as part of the Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat.
Local CCGs, primary care, mental health and ambulance trusts, police, local authority and other services and agencies came together to sign the concordat in December and have now developed a joint plan of action for how they will work together to improve services.
List of signatories for the concordat:
NHS England, North East Essex CCG, West Essex CCG, Mid Essex CCG, Southend CCG, Castlepoint & Rochford CCG, Basildon & Brentwood CCG, Thurrock CCG, Anglian Community Enterprise, Provide , South Essex Mental Health Trust & South East/West – Provider Services, North East London NHS Foundation Trust & South West – Provider, Hertfordshire partnership NHS Foundation Trust (North LD Services), North East Essex Partnership Foundation Trust, Mid Essex Hospital Trust, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Basildon & Thurrock Hospital Trust, Southend University NHS Foundation Trust Hospital, Colchester University Hospital, East of England Ambulance Service, Southend Council, Essex County Council, Thurrock Council, Essex Police, Office of Police Crime Commissioners and Essex Fire & Rescue Services.
The Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat is a national agreement between services and agencies involved in the care and support of people in crisis.
It sets out how organisations will work together better to make sure that people in crisis receive urgent mental health care.
In February 2014, 22 national bodies involved in health, policing, social care, housing, local government and the third sector came together and signed the concordat. It focuses on four main areas: access to support before crisis point; urgent and emergency access to crisis care; quality of treatment and care when in crisis; and recovery and staying well. ?
Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Mind, the mental health charity, said: “We are really pleased to see organisations getting together locally to work out how they will improve the care of people in mental health crisis.
"We know that where excellent crisis care exists, it saves lives, but too often people fall through the cracks between different services and don’t get the help they need.
"Local health services, local authorities, the criminal justice system and voluntary organisations must deliver a joined-up service and learn from each other to truly provide the best possible care.”
For more information about the concordat, visit www.crisiscareconcordat.org.uk
