Thursday 12th June 2014 – 4.45pm – Claire Brown.
A mental health scheme involving the ambulance service, police and mental health service was recognised for its partnership working at an awards ceremony last night.
Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust’s ‘Quality and Excellence’ awards ceremony, held on Wednesday 11th June, recognised staff who provided exceptional care to people who use their service. West Midlands Ambulance Service, West Midlands Police and mental health colleagues scooped second place in the ‘Working in Partnership’ category for their involvement in the successful mental health triage team.
The mental health team, which has been running for six months, operates a car with a police officer, mental health nurse and paramedic. The team respond to 999 calls to help people who need mental health care and provide them with the right support.
Rob Cole, West Midlands Ambulance Services Head of Clinical Practices for Vulnerable Person’s, said: “Every day this team responds to our most complex patients who are suffering mental health issues. In Birmingham and the Black Country we are able to deliver a world class response from a team of professional staff to provide those patients with the highest level of care possible. We are genuinely leading the way in the provision of high quality mental health care and we should all be very proud.”
Krystle O’Brien, the Trust’s Education and Training Officer, said: “I’m extremely proud to be part of the team of paramedics that work on the mental health car. It’s allowed me to both gain and provide knowledge and experience to improve patient outcome. This award has come after six months of hard work and I am truly impressed with the dedication of all of the team and the positive outcomes we have achieved.”
Chief Inspector Sean Russell of West Midlands Police said: “This collaborative approach in Birmingham and Solihull has already helped more than 1,100 people in the last 20 weeks; and has reduced the number of people being detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act by some 50 per cent. “The pilot has helped establish a really strong partnership, which is resulting in a very high quality of care and service being provided to those who suffer with mental ill health. Picking up the award last night is recognition for the contribution that our staff and partners have made in this complex arena and our work now continues to replicate what is an already successful model across the wider West Midlands.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
Pictured front row (left to right): WMP PC Sophie Smith, WMAS Education and Training Officer Krystle O’Brien, Bed Manager Andrea Maynard, WMP Sergeant Leanne Chapman. Back row (left to right) Associate Director at Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust DianaMarkman, WMP Chief Inspector Sean Russell, and Oleaster (place of safety) Bed Manager Richard Clarke.