A round the clock telephone helpline and 24-hour psychiatric services in Accident Emergency Departments: just some of the support NHS England (London) says Londoners experiencing mental health crisis should expect to receive in future under new mental health crisis care standards announced today.

Experts from 22 organisations including Mind, the Metropolitan Police, NHS, social care, housing and local councils will meet today to discuss the implementation of the new standards, which were developed after a review of the latest research and current mental health crisis services across the capital.

The new London Mental Health Crisis Commissioning Standards are part of the city’s response to the Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat, a national agreement supported by Mind and the Department of Health to help bring urgent mental health care in line with emergency health care for physical illness. As well as the new standards, agencies across London today also signed a formal declaration to commit the city to the Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat.

Dr Nick Broughton of the London Mental Health Strategic Clinical Network, who led the work said:

“If a person suffers a heart attack, they know what health care to expect, but in the case of a mental health emergency, the care is far more variable. It can involve the police and very often ends in people not receiving the care they need when they need it and in the right place.

“Excellent crisis care exists in London, but it’s not consistent. These standards are about increasing the accessibility and consistency of services across the capital.”

The London Mental Health Crisis Commissioning Standards set out the care Londoners suffering mental health crisis should expect to receive and include:

• access to a round the clock telephone helpline;
• dedicated areas for mental health assessments and 24-hour liaison psychiatry services in Accident and Emergency Departments;
• 24-hour clinical support for police answering mental health related calls;
• 24-hour crisis resolution teams;
• The provision of crisis houses with psychiatric care and support;
• crisis care plans prepared in advance for all service users at risk of mental health crisis;
• mental health crisis care training for GPs, practice nurses and community staff;
• closer relationships between local authorities, health services, the police and voluntary organisations to help people access all the support they need.

Welcoming the new standards, NHS England (London) Regional Director, Anne Rainsberry said:

“More than a million Londoners will experience mental ill health this year and it is vital that we get it right for them, their families and their carers.

“These standards set the ideal for the care Londoners should expect, and we look forward to working with our partners in the police, local authorities and voluntary organisations to make it a reality. This is an important step towards ending years of imbalance between mental and physical health services.”

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Mark Simmons, from Territorial Policing, said:

“Mental Health is a core issue for policing in London.

“With one in four people likely to face a mental health issue and up to 40 per cent of all our work relating to people with mental health vulnerability in the capital, we recognise the need for effective, multi-agency responses to people in crisis.

“We believe the Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat will significantly improve the level of support, interaction and intervention we all give to those who suffer mental health crisis, whilst the new London Mental Health Crisis Commissioning Standards demonstrates how the Met and partner organisations are working together to achieve this.

“By working together more effectively, we can offer the best care possible.”

Care and Support Minister, Norman Lamb, said:

“Improving mental health crisis care is a major priority and our Crisis Care Concordat is helping make sure people in distress get the urgent, compassionate care they need.

“I’d like to congratulate London for signing their declaration and strongly urge others to follow suit. Better, more consistent and more collaborative care for people in crisis will not only help those living through their darkest hours to recover, it can also save lives. I want to make sure we cover the whole country by the end of the year so that we rapidly spread best practice.”

Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Mind, the mental health charity said:

“We are really pleased to see organisations getting together locally and taking the first steps toward improving 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.”

Matthew Patrick, Chief Executive of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Clinical Director of the London Mental Health Strategic Clinical Network said:

“It is time to rethink how we respond to individuals in crisis as part of the drive towards a parity of esteem between mental and physical health. People in crisis deserve access to rapid and effective support and care.

“These standards must be implemented by all parties – not just NHS providers – if they are to have a real impact. The fact that such a wide range of organisations have signed the Concordat, demonstrates a firm commitment to making real improvements for people in London with mental illness.”

• View the London Mental Health Crisis Commissioning Standards and Recommendations:
• See the London Mental Health Crisis Commissioning: case studies:
• London Mental Health Crisis Commissioning Guide: