Minister meets with West Yorkshire urgent and emergency care network

This week the Department of Health released information about its national programme, the Crisis Care Concordat, which aims to drive up standards in mental health crisis care across the country.

The Rt Hon Alistair Burt, Minister of State for Community and Social Care visited Bradford on Monday 24 August to look at the First Response crisis service being provided locally. He also met with mental health representatives from one of NHS England’s newly announced vanguards, West Yorkshire urgent and emergency care network, including Alex Farrell, deputy chief executive of South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

The network will find new approaches to improve and strengthen crisis response for people of all ages across West Yorkshire with the aim of influencing national best practice. The needs of people in crisis impact across the entire urgent and emergency care system including social services and the police.

The Minister for Community and Social Care, Alistair Burt said: “Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis should be treated with the same urgency and compassion as someone with a physical health condition.

“West Yorkshire urgent and emergency care network provides a good opportunity for local areas to come together, build on the good work they are already doing and find pioneering ways to provide the right mental health crisis care, in the right place for everyone.”

Alex Farrell said: “As a mental health provider, we are proud to support the West Yorkshire urgent and emergency care network. It’s really important that people in crisis receive urgent care for their mental health in the same way you’d expect to be treated promptly at A&E for a physical problem. It was great to meet with Mr Burt to raise the profile of the network and highlight the importance of excellent mental health care in helping people to live well in their communities.”