16 March 2007
Police officers should be empowered to refer people to mental health professionals for help, according to London Assembly members.
Navigating the mental health maze, an Assembly report published on March 13, criticised the inadequate and fragmented state of London's mental health services, which often made access to treatment difficult.
Among its seven recommendations, the report called for a single, coherent referral system, which would allow non-mental health professionals, including those outside the NHS, to refer people for assessment and treatment. It also suggested the development of a website to act as a one-stop shop for information on services.
Joanne McCartney, chair of the London Assembly health and public services committee, which produced the report, said: 'It is crucial that people who need help are able to access it quickly and easily. More than half of respondents to a survey conducted as part of our investigation said they were not given enough information.'
King's Fund chief executive Niall Dickson said the report was helpful in highlighting the mental health challenges in London.
PFmar2007
