Written question WQ85639
- Asked by
- Janet Finch-SaundersConservative
- To be answered by
- Minister for Health and Social Services
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 8 days
Question
Further to WQ85567, will the Minister clarify what steps the Welsh Government has taken to ensure that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has arrangements in place to provide mental health support if individuals present outside of normal working hours?
Answer
Answered by Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board provides places of safety to assess individuals detained under Sections 135 and 135 of the Mental Health Act 1983 in the following locations:
• Heddfan Unit in Wrexham
• Ablett Unit in Glan Clywyd
• Hergest Unit in Bangor.
As part of the routine monitoring of health board performance the NHS Delivery Unit reviews activity in crisis services, including gatekeeping assessments and follow up assessments in crisis, resolution and home treatment teams. The Welsh Government also publishes data on detentions under 135 and 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983. The latest release shows that for the quarter ending March 2022, there were 136 detentions under sections 135/136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 with 98 being taken to the place of safety and 38 taken to the Accident and Emergency Department.
Data is available here: Detentions under Section 135 and 136 of the Mental Health Act (gov.wales).
£4m of the £6m to support the mental health crisis pathway was allocated to health boards as per the following table.
Crisis Care (all age)
£m
Swansea Bay
0.508
Aneurin Bevan
0.753
Betsi Cadwaladr
0.903
Cardiff and Vale
0.532
Cwm Taf Morgannwg
0.614
Hywel Dda
0.512
Powys
0.177
Total
4.000
£2m was held centrally to support the development of the urgent mental health support via 111 and to pilot a national model of mental health conveyance.
Health boards are at varying stages of implementation in relation to providing urgent access to mental health advice and support via 111. Services will also be implemented in a phased manner to enable health boards to test pathways and service models before full, 24/7 coverage is achieved. The health board’s current plan is to commence the phased implementation by the end of the year, following recruitment.