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GP referral

Bedfordshire and Luton AMHP Service

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The AMHP (Approved Mental Health Professional) service is provided by East London Foundation Trust (ELFT) on behalf of Bedford Borough Council, Central Bedfordshire Council and Luton Borough Council.

We assess people under the Mental Health Act 1983, Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm.

Out of hours this service is provided by the Emergency Duty Team (EDT), which is provided by Central Bedfordshire Council on behalf of the three Local Authorities (Bedford Borough Council, Central Bedfordshire Council and Luton Borough Council).

AMHPs are qualified nurses, social workers, occupational therapists (OTs) or psychologists, who have completed additional training that means they can make an application under the Mental Health Act 1983 to detain a person to hospital for a period of assessment or treatment.

This will happen if there is a concern that the person has a mental disorder of a nature and or degree and is a risk to their own or others health and safety, but are unwilling or unable to agree to come into hospital or stay in hospital.

Alongside the AMHP, two doctors will also be part of the assessing team, one must have special training (S12) in the assessment and diagnosis of mental disorder and one who is a registered medical practitioner.

The AMHP will make all reasonable attempts to liaise with the person’s nearest relative if application for assessment (section 2 is being considered) and must consult with the nearest relative if application for treatment (section 3) is being considered.

The AMHPs also undertake assessment for mental health crisis breathing space (debt respite scheme) for those living in Bedfordshire and Luton, when a person is experiencing a mental health crisis.
 

Address

Florence Ball House (Central base)
Bedford Health Village
Bedford
MK40 2NT
United Kingdom

Opening hours
9am-5pm (Monday to Friday)
Email address
elft.amhpservice.bedfordshire-luton@nhs.net
Telephone number
01234 893867
07748 106 264
07748 123 665

Referrals to the team can be received from other professionals by completion of the AMHP referral form or CTO referral form which need to be emailed to the following team inbox:

Bedfordshire and Luton residents
Email: elft.amhpservice.bedfordshire-luton@nhs.net

All out of hours emergency referrals, that cannot wait until the next day (e.g S136, A&E, custody or high risk community) should be emailed to: edt@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk 

All referrals need to be followed up with a telephone call to confirm receipt of the referral and discuss timeframes for the assessment and any potential risks and urgency of the referral. A contingency plan should be agreed at the time of the telephone conversation. 

The referrer retains clinical responsibility of patient’s care until the MHA assessment is undertaken.
Referrals for a mental health act assessment can also be made by nearest relatives, who can call through to the team and talk to a AMHP Lead about their concerns.

Bedfordshire and Luton Countywide AMHP Service (Monday to Friday 9am-5pm)
Tel: 01234 893867
Mobile: 07748 106264 or 07748 123665
EDT (emergency out of hours service)
Tel: 0300 300 8123

Out of hours, the service is provided by EDT (emergency duty team), who responds to emergency MHA requests, mainly s136, A&E, custody or high risk community referrals.

Telephone contact: 0300 300 8123
Email: edt@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

The AMHP service operates from two sites.

Our main base is:
Florence Ball House
Bedford Village
3 Kimbolton Road
MK40 2NT
Bedford

Our second site is:
Poplars Site
Mayer Way
Houghton Regis
Dunstable
LU55BF