Mental health pilot service begins

New help now being offered

People living in Peterborough and Cambridgeshire will now be able to access a new mental health team when they dial 111. The pilot scheme was launched on Monday by mentalhealthandcommunitycare provider Cambridgeshireand Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT).

This week has also see the introduction of a new‘safe haven’ in Peterboroughforthose experiencing a mental health crisis.

The changes, which are part of the Urgent and Emergency Care Vanguard programme i n Peterborough and Cambridgeshire, aim to improve the way urgent mental health careis delivered and to reducethepressureonhospitals.

Elaine Young, Vanguard The new facilities programme lead for CPFT, said: “We think this a really important step forward to improve care for those who are suffering mental health issues.

“Until now most people in mental health crisis will have hadto go to A&Edepartments to try and get help.

“If people have physically harmed themselves then A&E is the right place to go. But more often people just want someone to talk to and advice on what help is available and which services they can access.

“Overall we are aiming to give mental health crisis parity of esteem by making help more easily accessible and available as well as easing pressure on A&E departments.”

The extension of the 111 service will mean callers who are experiencing a mental healthcrisiswillbeabletodial the NHS urgent medical advice number, andbychoosing ‘option 2’ will be put through to a member of CPFT’s new First Response Service.

Specially-trained mental health staff will then speak to callers and discuss with themtheirmentalhealthcare needs.

The safe haven, run by mental health charity Mind In Cambridgeshire, and supported by Peterborough and Fenland Mind, offers people somewhere to go where they can access emotional and practical support.

AccesstoitviatheFirstResponse Service on 111 is by referral only.

Funding for the projects is non-recurrent.