How East Midlands' Mental Health Response Vehicles are easing pressure on A&Es
The East Midlands Ambulance Service have shared with us exclusive statistics that show how their Mental health response vehicles are reducing the pressures on emergency departments
The Head of Mental Health at East Midlands Ambulance Service tells us they'd like to see an expansion on the numbers, and operating hours, of their dedicated response vehicles.
The new initiative was introduced to Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire in October last year and are staffed with a Paramedic and a Mental Health Clinician, is deployed to 999 incidents within a defined geographical area to offer a holistic assessment of patient need and improved outcomes.
They were brought to the area due to the growing number of mental health incidents.
The Service plays a crucial role in the delivery of mental health care with 999 often being a first point of contact for someone experiencing a mental health crisis. In January, these types of callouts were said to be the reason for the fourth largest on scene attendance for the service.
Since 2022, EMAS, along with support from regional Integrated Care Boards, has strengthened its approach to supporting those experiencing mental health crisis by ensuring Mental Health Clinicians are available 24/7 in Emergency Operating Centres to triage calls and support crews remotely on scene.
In addition, all front-line crews receive appropriate and relevant training in responding to those in crisis on scene, and the Mental Health Team collaborate with system partners to strengthen and develop pathways and resources.
In data shared with us exclusively, we've seeing how these Mental Health Response vehicles have helped reduce the pressure on local A&E departments, with over 88 percent of patients being treated 'on the spot' rather than taken to hospital.
From October 2024 through to April 2025 the service across both counties conveyed around 7-12% of patients in Mental Health crisis. Others were signposted and supported by the crews.
Meanwhile, in 2023, EMAS attended 9233 mental health incidents across Derbyshire, and 52.5% of these resulted in a transfer to the emergency department. While, In Nottinghamshire there were 9693 mental health incidents, of which 55.68% were conveyed to hospital.
Now the two vehicles only operate within a 9 hour window, of 4pm - 1am, and only in 2 of the regions counties.
Helen Auld tells us she'd like to see this collaborative working implemented more widely:
"Our paramedic colleagues can rule out things like infections, and whether someone is safe to stay at home from a physical perspective, whereas our mental health clinicians are doing their assessments so, by combining those two, we're making sure our patients are going to the right place at the right time and being supported by the right people.
"Last year alone, we had an increase in mental health calls of over 50% and our crews are amazing at responding to those 999 calls absolutely but what we realised we were missing was that holistic, physical and mental healthcare."
This development was brought about by a partnership between EMAS, Nottinghamshire Healthcare, Derbyshire Healthcare and both Integrated Care Boards from the counties, with support from NHS England.
The aim is to reduce avoidable conveyance to emergency departments and for care to be delivered in accordance with patient needs.