A SLICE of £2.3million given to the West Midlands to support people with mental health problems is to come to Worcestershire.
The county is one of four areas in the region to receive a share of the government cash and has been awarded £591,936.
The Beyond Places of Safety Scheme will fund clinics, crisis cafés, and other community services designed to prevent people from reaching crisis point, as well as supporting new approaches and facilities for those who do.
The plan is for Worcestershire Health and Care Trust to use the money to help patients experiencing a mental health crisis by developing an appropriate clinical area at Newton Hospital in Worcester, staffed by specialist crisis practitioners who can carry out assessments and develop urgent support plans.
Welcoming the grant Councillor Adrian Hardman, Cabinet member with Responsibility for Adult Social Care, said: “This is great news for Worcestershire.
“Mental health is a growing problem across the whole of the country and further funds are needed to tackle it properly.
“The money we receive here in Worcestershire will be used to reduce the number of unnecessary visits to A&E departments by improving mental health services we already have.”
The Beyond Places of Safety fund was launched last year by the Prime Minister and follows the success of a previous scheme that helped to develop hospital based Places of Safety for people experiencing a crisis to avoid them ending up in police cells.
Since this scheme started the numbers of detentions in police cells under the Mental Health Act has fallen by over 90 per cent.
Redditch MP Rachel Maclean said: “I’m delighted Worcestershire Health & Care NHS Trust has been awarded £591,936 by the Department of Health & Social Care.
“This cash boost will make sure people get the specialist support they need during and after a mental health crisis.
“It is absolutely vital there is continued investment in to our mental health services to ensure help and support is available to people in their time of need.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Trust on being rated as among the best in the country for their overall performance.
“It’s clear the hard-working healthcare professionals are providing first-class services for the people of Redditch.”
