Background and aims
In December 2018, a pilot service called 'psynergy' was introduced in Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre to respond to people experiencing mental health crisis as a partnership between Lancashire Care NHS foundation trust (now Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS foundation trust), North West ambulance service (NWAS) and Lancashire constabulary.
Solution
Psynergy involves a senior mental health nurse, a paramedic and a police officer coming together as a crew in a NWAS vehicle to jointly attend to people experiencing a mental health crisis. The aim is to provide people with an appropriate triage decision, offer the right care and advice, improve patient experience and avoid unnecessary admissions.
Outcomes and benefits
By August 2019, the psynergy team had attended 570 incidents and from these 195 people only needed advice at the point of contact and only 20 incidents lead to Section 136 detentions under the mental health act. The team also reported that they were able to support people to remain in their own homes with the right care.
Additional information
You can find out more about the psynergy pilot by accessing the Blackpool NHS Foundation Trust article.
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Content last updated: 24/11/2022.