A NEW service will see mental health nurses on duty with police in North Yorkshire to improve the way people suffering mental health crises receive care.

The Street Triage service was launched in York today (Friday, October 10).

It involves mental health nurses, occupational therapists, social workers and health support workers working on duty with police officers during busy periods of the day, seven days a week.

They will be supported by two mental health professionals who can be dispatched to an incident with police or provide telephone advice to officers.

The scheme has been launched in York and Selby and work is already underway to launch similar schemes in other parts of North Yorkshire.

As well as helping people get the right care when needed, the Street Triage scheme also aims to reduce the number of people who are detained under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act.

Deputy Chief Constable Tim Madgwick of North Yorkshire Police, added: “Not only will the Street Triage scheme provide vital intervention and the most appropriate care for vulnerable people, it will also free up more of our officers’ time, enabling them to return to policing their neighbourhoods.”

Julia Mulligan, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire, said the scheme will prevent situations escalating to the point where someone has to be detained by police.

She said: “All too often very vulnerable people in mental health crisis can end up in the hands of the police rather than the care of health professionals. This new service will help provide proper support at the very moment when it is most needed.”

The service has been created by Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and North Yorkshire Police in partnership with the NHS Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and funding from North Yorkshire County Council and City of York Council.