Health campaigner praises police and NHS scheme

Leading local health campaigner Lisa Smart has praised a groundbreaking police and NHS scheme in Stockport and is calling for it to be funded long-term.

The Parliamentary Campaigner for Hazel Grove Constituency attended a ride along with a registered mental health nurse and police officers to see first-hand the positive impact joined up working can have.

Lisa said: “Seeing the mental health nurse and police officers working together to provide support fast when and where it is needed was so impressive.

“I learned a huge amount about how much difference it can make getting people in crisis the support and assessment they need quickly. With police and NHS budgets and staff increasingly over-stretched, this project has the potential to save time, save money and, crucially, save lives. It should be funded for the long-term as a priority.”

The mental health joint response service sees a mental health clinician from Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust and a police officer attend incidents in which the person is experiencing a mental health crisis.