Published on: 24th August 2016
The Government has today (Tuesday, 23 August) awarded Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust £405,895 of funding for health-based and alternative places of safety to support those in mental health crisis.
The money will fund a new psychiatric decision-making unit in Peter Hodginson Centre, a new section 136 suite for children and young people based in Ash Villa - inpatient mental health ward for children and young people, and rapid response vehicle providing street triage services across the region.
The money has been awarded from a £15m national fund from the Department of Health, as part of the Government’s ongoing commitment to ensure proper provision of health and community-based places of safety for people suffering a mental health crisis who have committed no crime from being placed in a police cell. In total, 41 projects will benefit from a share of a £15m fund in the first wave of bids.
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said:
This Government is committed to ending the scandal of people in crisis being locked up in police cells.
When a person is experiencing a mental health crisis they need the right care, in the right place and at the right time. We are fully committed to improving mental health services across the country and these projects will help support people at a crucial time.
The bids, totalling £6.1m, have been awarded to 15 NHS trusts and partnership organisations covering ten police force areas where use of police cells as a place of safety has previously been amongst the highest. In 2014/15 police cells were used as a place of safety in Lincolnshire on 320 occasions, including 21 where someone under the age of 18 was detained in custody.
Dr John Brewin, Chief Executive of Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said:
This funding will directly improve care for people when they are at their most vulnerable. It is essential that people experiencing mental health crisis receive the care and support they need as quickly as possible, in a place they can feel safe, and that they are supported by professionals who understand their needs. Our three projects will enhance Lincolnshire’s existing mental health crisis services for young people and adults and offer faster and more appropriate support for people experiencing crisis.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd said:
We have seen good progress on our manifesto commitment to reduce the use of cells, with numbers dropping by 32 per cent across England and Wales in just one year. But there is still more to do, and the 41 projects announced today will provide vital facilities for those in crisis to ensure they get the compassionate care and support they need.
The police should never be the default response for someone experiencing a mental health crisis.
And we are going further, bringing important changes to legislation through the Policing and Crime Bill to ensure that police cells are only used as a place of safety for adults in exceptional circumstances, and will ban their use altogether for under 18s.
