MENTAL Health Clinicians have teamed up with North Wales Police to provide a new mental health triage service based at the Force Control Centre in St Asaph.

The service aims to help for people identified as being in mental health crisis and to improve the flow of information between North Wales Police and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

North Wales Police has a high number of detentions under the Section 136 of the Mental Health Act compared to similar sized forces. However, only a small percentage of these detentions result in patients being formally admitted to hospital under the act, which demonstrates the need for a different approach.

The new team is comprised of six Betsi-Cadwalladr University Health Board practitioners from a variety of backgrounds.

The team will work with North Wales Police to improve patient outcomes for those who come in to contact with the criminal justice system while suffering with mental health issues and will also operate across our custody suites and within Magistrate’s Courts. The clinicians will review police incidents in which mental health is a factor and provide expert advice directly to officers but won’t attend incidents to deal directly with the public.

The team also provides a point of contact for officers dealing with individuals in mental health crisis and makes recommendations on patient care, liaise with mental health units on behalf of officers and make referrals to other services. The final decision on use of Section 136 detention order will remain with officers.

Inspector Jason Davies said: "Police are often first on the scene at an incident. We often have little choice but to detain the person until health treatment can be provided. The idea of the triage is to make sure officers are fully informed when having to make such difficult decisions, and that the person receives the appropriate care.

"A partnership between the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and North Wales Police provides the most appropriate service to people with issues relating to their mental health at the earliest opportunity – and saves time and money for the police, ambulance and health services."

Lesley Singleton, Director of Partnerships for Mental Health, said: "This partnership work with North Wales Police will help us to support people experiencing a mental health crisis at the earliest possible opportunity.

"We are determined to shift the focus of our care to early intervention and prevention, so people receive the right support, in the right place, at the right time.

"Working with our partners, like North Wales Police, is an important part of the way we’re transforming mental health care across North Wales and improving outcomes for people experiencing a mental health crisis."