Nottingham's first emergency 'place of safety' for mentally ill

NOTTINGHAM'S first emergency facility for people found to be mentally ill in a public place is set to open this summer.

Bosses are refurbishing one of the Queen's Medical Centre's mother and baby units near wards A42 and A43.

It will be a "place of safety" where NHS staff can assess and help treat people brought in under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act.

Currently, Bridewell police station, south of the city centre, is used to hold the 250 people a year who are mentally ill in public.

But mental health officials say many have not committed any crime and need to be seen more quickly.

Garry Bevis, manager of acute care services for Notts Healthcare Trust – which runs mental health services in the county – said the QMC facility would cut assessment times.

He said: "When someone is significantly mentally unwell we want to see them in a timely way. They often haven't committed an offence, so being in a police cell is not ideal."

The trust is paying £330,000 for the refurbishment work after getting funding from NHS Nottingham City.

The facility is due to open late next month and will employ 12 people working 24 hours a day.

People will be brought to the unit – which will have holding rooms and security systems – by the police or in an ambulance.

Staff have 72 hours to decide on the best course of action once someone is admitted, but it is hoped assessments will now be done within four hours.

They can continue to detain the person under the Mental Health Act, monitor them at home with the help of a crisis team or rule they do not have a mental illness.

A facility based at King's Mill hospital, in Sutton-in-Ashfield, opened at the end of last year to cater for North Notts.

Paul Saint, criminal justice specialist services manager for Notts police, said some of the people detained are "extremely vulnerable".

He said: "These people need healthcare provision and to be given the appropriate treatment in a hospital instead of a cell.

"A number of official reports have supported this issue.

"The trust has been committed to find provision for south of the county and we have worked closely with them to finalise procedures.

"This is a major step forward and will be extremely positive in the care of people with mental health problems."

robert.parsons@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk