SOUTHEND has joined up with Thurrock and Essex County councils to improve mental health care in the area.

The Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat has been drawn up with NHS trusts and clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) across the three authorities as well as Essex Police and Essex Fire and Rescue in order to improve services by working together.

Paul Farmer, chief executive of mental health charity Mind, said: “We are really pleased to see organisations getting together locally to work out how they will improve the care of people in mental health crisis.

"We know that where excellent crisis care exists, it saves lives, but too often people fall through the cracks between different services and don’t get the help they need.

"Local health services, local authorities, the criminal justice system and voluntary organisations must deliver a joined-up service and learn from each other to truly provide the best possible care.”

The Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat is a national agreement between services and agencies and sets out how organisations will work together better to make sure people in crisis receive urgent mental health care. On February 2014, 22 national bodies involved in health, policing, social care, housing, local government and the third sector came together and signed the concordat.

It focuses on four main areas: access to support before crisis point; urgent and emergency access to crisis care; quality of treatment and care when in crisis; and recovery and staying well.

For more information on the concordat, visit www.crisiscareconcordat.org.uk

The signatories in Essex are;

  • NHS England
  • North East Essex CCG
  • West Essex CCG
  • Mid Essex CCG
  • Southend CCG
  • Castle Point & Rochford CCG
  • Basildon & Brentwood CCG
  • Thurrock CCG
  • Anglian Community Enterprise
  • Provide
  • South Essex Mental Health Trust & South East/West – Provider Services
  • North East London NHS Foundation Trust & South West – Provider
  • Hertfordshire partnership NHS Foundation Trust (North LD Services)
  • North East Essex Partnership Foundation Trust
  • Mid Essex Hospital Trust, Princess Alexandra Hospital
  • Basildon & Thurrock Hospital Trust
  • Southend University NHS Foundation Trust Hospital
  • Colchester University Hospital
  • East of England Ambulance Service
  • Southend Council
  • Essex County Council
  • Thurrock Council
  • Essex Police
  • Office of Police Crime Commissioners
  • Essex Fire & Rescue Services.