Met Police send warning over ‘stretched’ NHS services as it redirects 6,000 mental health calls

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Funding is needed in London for “stretched” mental health services, the Metropolitan Police have warned, as the force withdraws from 6,000 NHS calls month. “We know that the NHS that they invest heavily in, community mental health services, but sometimes with community mental health services if someone falls into crisis, quite often because individuals are in the community that leads a call to police.” “I think NHS themselves would say, significant investment is required in mental health services.” Since the introduction of the RCPC in the capital, London Ambulance Services have received 200 to 250 more calls a day but said it had measures in place to meet this demand. Following the death of a woman in Humber in 2022 a coroner warned the police and local NHS: “While the “Right Care/Right Person” process appears to ensure that the correct emergency service should respond if called, delays in response means often staff are left dealing with a vulnerable person for many hours due to unavailability of emergency services or mental health support.” The Home Office announced backing for RCPC last year, however, have yet to publish an impact assessment. “This shift suggests a growing tendency from police officers to explore alternative options before resorting to detention, potentially resulting in fewer individuals being involuntarily detained.” Jinjer Kandola MBE, Deputy Chair, Cavendish Square Group, and CEO of the North London Mental Health Partnership said: “The Cavendish Square Group supports the principle that patients should be treated in the most appropriate clinical setting.