Police already refusing to attend mental health call-outs
Posted 01 November 2023 - 17:00
Health leaders are concerned at the speed of the Right Care, Right Person roll-out by police forces and it puts nurses under more pressure to cover gaps in care
Police forces across the country are already refusing to attend mental health call-outs unless there is serious risk of harm despite assurances the move would be gradual, a nursing union has warned.
Police have begun roll out of Right Care, Right Person
From 1 November the Metropolitan Police has reduced their response to mental health call-outs and will no longer attend medical calls where a healthcare professional is more appropriate or welfare checks for people who have missed a planned health appointment or not taken their medication.
Police forces in England and Wales have been told they no longer need to attend mental health call-outs unless there is a ‘significant safety risk’ as part of a new initiative called Right Care, Right Person, in a bid to save 1 million hours of police time.
But the RCN has warned that the speed and lack of oversight of the introduction of the policy has resulted in police forces across the country reportedly refusing to attend calls where they potentially have a statutory duty to do so. The college said this could leave vulnerable patients at risk and increase pressure on nursing staff working in ‘overstretched and underfunded’ mental health services.
RCN warns that some patients could be disenfranchised by the changes
While the RCN welcomed the principles behind the policy, it said the new threshold to attend calls could lead to problems as the police, unlike health professionals, have specific additional powers under the Mental Health Act, including the ability to enter premises and remove patients without a warrant.
The college said it was concerned the move would further disenfranchise some patient groups, such as those with complex emotional needs or a diagnosed personality disorder.
In a statement, the RCN said: ‘Despite the assurance within the policy to transition towards these new ways of working, our members have informed us that police forces across the country are already refusing to respond to mental health crises unless a crime is committed.
‘These actions contradict the commitment to the policy and the statutory duties for police set out within the Mental Health Act. We are concerned that such actions lack police monitoring, healthcare governance and infrastructure to safely provide this vital public service.’
Under the policy, officers will also no longer look for people who have walked out of mental health facilities or hospitals unless there is a reason for police to be involved. As part of the initiative, a new helpline has been launched for officers to call before detaining someone under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act.
Concern over pace of change and lack of funding to fill gaps
Mental health charity Mind’s chief executive Sarah Hughes echoed the RCN’s warning, adding that the charity remained ‘extremely concerned about the pace of these changes and how they will play out in practice’.
‘We are already seeing people ending up in dangerous situations because of how Right Care Right Person is being interpreted in different parts of the country, so we are repeating our call for guarantees about how it will be introduced safely,’ she added.
‘We are also yet to hear how it is possible to remove the support of one agency without additional funding for others who will pick up the work.’
National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for Right Care Right Person, assistant chief constable Jenny Gilmer said they have worked closely with local health and social care partners to deliver changes.
She added: ‘While forces will receive national guidance and support to implement changes locally, the time frame for which they do so is up to them and their partner organisations. This is so that partner agencies have adequate time to make the necessary changes to their service provision to ensure vulnerable people are given appropriate care by the appropriate agency.
‘Police will continue to respond to incidents where there is a threat to life or where there is criminality, and remain fully committed to their duty to protect communities.’
In other news