NHS 111 mental health crisis support now available 24/7 in Bedfordshire

NHS 111 will act as a first point of contact for any adults, children or young people in urgent need of mental health help.

Callers will receive fast and responsive support from NHS mental health professionals by selecting Option 2.

Trust call handlers will complete an immediate telephone triage and then signpost people to help and support or arrange a same-day mental health assessment by our mental health services for children and young people or adults.

The call handlers are based at Florence Ball House in Bedford Health Village, Kimbolton Road, Bedford.

The service is supported by the Trust’s urgent mental health assessment centres at Florence Ball House and Calnwood Court on the site of Luton and Dunstable University Hospital, which provide 24hr walk-in mental health crisis support for all ages.

Dr Angharad Ruttley, the Trust's Clinical Director for Crisis Care in Bedfordshire and Luton, said: “This is a huge step forward in providing more accessible and responsive mental health crisis care for people of all ages.

“NHS 111 is known and trusted by the public and will now act as a first point of contact for people experiencing serious mental health challenges who don’t think they can cope.

“It will also better connect all NHS mental health services across the county.”

The extended NHS 111 service went live at 8am on Monday, June 15.