Mental health emergency calls taken by LYPFT

In a pilot service launching today, mental health professionals at LYPFT will take some 999 calls to help people in a mental health emergency.

After calls are triaged by Yorkshire Ambulance Service, colleagues in our acute services will take Category 3, 4, and 5 calls from people with mental health difficulties who have no physical health concerns and therefore do not require the deployment of a 999 ambulance.

Our staff will support callers and help with next steps such as organising face-to-face community support or facilitating access to alternative services such as crisis cafés or safe havens which provide a place for people to stay as an alternative to A&E or a hospital admission.

The pilot service will help people get the specialist mental health care they need whilst reducing pressure on 999. Callers can be referred back to Yorkshire Ambulance Service if an ambulance is subsequently needed.

This will initially be in place 8am – 6pm, Monday to Friday. It is hoped that this arrangement will be expanded and made permanent if successful.

Laura McDonagh, Head of Operations for Acute Services at LYPFT, explains: “This pilot is about ensuring that people experiencing a mental health emergency can access the specialist care they need, without unnecessary delays or trips to A&E. Often, individuals with mental health concerns end up waiting in A&E for hours, only to be referred to a mental health team like ALPS for assessment. By having mental health professionals directly handle these calls, we can offer the right support sooner, avoiding long waits and reducing pressure on emergency services.”

Page last updated: 6th Nov 2024 4:07pm