Report Summary
This report provides members of the Scottish Police Authority with an overview of activities carried out by the Chair since the last Authority meeting held on 27 June 2024.
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Meeting
The publication discussed was referenced in the meeting below
Meeting of the Scottish Police Authority - 22 August 2024
Date : 22 August 2024
Location : The Grand Hall, Merchants House, 7 West George Street, Glasgow, G2 1BA
Lanarkshire collaboration on mental health response
On 13 August 2024, I was joined by Fiona McQueen, Vice Chair and Lynn Brown, Chief Executive on a visit to Police Scotland’s Q divisional team in Motherwell. The purpose of the visit was to learn more about how officers are working closely with NHS professionals to deliver a better service for the public while reducing office attendance at hospital emergency departments in Lanarkshire. Effective policing responses to calls for services for those in mental health crisis has been a Board priority for 3-years.
The 24/7 triage approach offers a route to officers to engage with a professional Psychiatric Liaison Nurse (PLN) when they encounter an individual who presents in some form of mental health distress. The psychiatric nurse can consider the individuals needs and quickly determine the best course of action where previously, they would need to be accompanied to an NHS A&E department and wait for an assessment. The triage approach being used in Lanarkshire has seen potential police attendances at A&E departments reduced by over 80 per cent. This is benefiting the individual who is now getting swifter support and the professional interventions they need to meet their needs. It is also saving police officers’ time with less waiting for individuals to be assessed at A&E departments.
The approach in Lanarkshire highlights how effective collaboration between the police and NHS can lead to better outcomes for everyone. I expect learning from this initiative will now be applied across Scotland and local services consider the approach and how it could be tailored to fit other Division and Health Board areas.
