Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to ensure people in mental health crises receive adequate support in emergency services in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency and (b) Hertfordshire.

The Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board commissions mental health services to meet the needs of its population, including for people living in Harpenden and Berkhamsted. The integrated care board continues to monitor the effectiveness and quality of these services.

The National Health Service, local councils, police, and experts by experience continue to work together through Hertfordshire’s Crisis Care Concordat, to implement service and pathway improvements to ensure that people experiencing a mental health crisis receive timely, effective, and appropriate support.

This includes implementing the Right Care, Right Person approach which minimises the involvement of police in the care of people with mental health needs, where this is appropriate.

The integrated care board has developed a range of services to support people in mental health crisis. A new mental health urgent care centre has opened in Stevenage, which offers a safe space and a multidisciplinary team to provide support. Options for a similar model in West Hertfordshire are being explored. Nightlight services, delivered by the Herts Mind Network, provide emotional support, advice, and sanctuary space for those experiencing a mental health crisis.

Additionally, mental health response vehicles are being rolled out across the country. Each vehicle is staffed by a paramedic with enhanced medical training and a registered mental health practitioner, enabling expert care to be delivered directly at the scene.

People of all ages in England who are experiencing a mental health crisis can speak to a trained NHS professional at any time of the day via the NHS 111 service. This service gives people the chance to be listened to by a trained member of staff who can help direct them to the right place.