An initiative to ensure patients experiencing a mental health crisis have fast access to care has been launched in Bedfordshire and Luton.

The Trust has partnered with Bedfordshire Police, East of England Ambulance Trust, Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group and Luton Clinical Commissioning Group to launch Mental Health Street Triage.

The pilot scheme involves a police officer, paramedic and mental health professional teaming up in one car to respond to mental health crisis calls 365 days a year. They cover the whole county, operating from 3pm – 1am, with bases at police headquarters in Kempston and at Luton Police Station.