ELFT is engaging with those who have experience of using the crisis line numbers for each borough, including staff, service users and carers. The aim has been to understand how they have used the service to ensure it continues to effectively provide a quality service.
The insight and feedback will inform a programme of work the Trust plans to implement over the coming months, to develop, streamline and improve the service it offers.
The 0800 crisis contact number for each East London borough will stay the same during these changes, to ensure continuity of service for those experiencing a mental health crisis.
As a Trust, we remain committed to providing a mental health crisis Freephone support line, staffed by qualified, knowledgeable and empathetic mental health professionals who are there to respond to every call, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year round.
Our intention is to ensure that people using the service continue to get the same or an improved level of care, while also continuing best staff practices to provide consistency in experience and equity of care.
The programme of work also aims to prepare the system for the implementation of NHS 111 Option 2 (mental health emergency) in 2024, ensuring that crisis calls from our local area (to our existing crisis lines or 111) are all handled by one experienced team of mental health professionals with local knowledge.
If you would like to find out more about proposed changes to our telephone lines, as well as any experiences you or those you know have with them, you can drop us an email at elft.eastlondoncrisisline@nhs.net.