Patients experiencing a mental health crisis will now receive better front-line care thanks to a collaboration between the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) and Queensland Health.
This follows a highly-successful pilot program where a senior mental health clinician was incorporated into the frontline ambulance response.
The initiative allows many patients to be treated in their own home, within a safe and comfortable environment.
It also benefits the health system by reducing Emergency Department presentations.
QAS Mental Health Response Program Director Sandra Garner said the Mental Health Co-responder Program would be expanded to include the Sunshine Coast, Townsville and Cairns.
“The program pairs a specialist Paramedic with a Senior Mental Health Clinician from the HHS to provide a first, timely and appropriate health response to patients experiencing a mental health crisis,” Ms Garner said.
“The results speak for themselves, with the QAS able to facilitate access to appropriate follow up and referrals for more than 1,000 patients during the pilot period in the Metro South, West Moreton and Gold Coast regions.
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“This means better healthcare outcomes for Queenslanders and a reduction in Emergency Department presentations, which has flow on effects for the entire health system.”
Last year the QAS responded to more than 60,000 people experiencing a mental health crisis, a 23 per cent increase from the previous year, representing around 13 per cent of QAS Triple Zero (000) calls.
“More than 80 per cent of people experiencing a mental health crisis, accessing services via Triple Zero (000), are in a complex, multi-faceted crisis, unfortunately including suicide crisis,” Ms Garner said.
“Historically, most people seen by paramedics in a mental health crisis were transported to a hospital Emergency Department.
“It’s recognised that first responders are in a unique position to determine the course and outcome of a patient’s mental health crisis, which is why the expansion of this service is so important.”
QAS Commissioner Russell Bowles said the QAS was always looking for innovative ways to respond to the community.
“This is the same assessment and treatments which would otherwise be provided in a hospital, but they’re undertaken in the patient’s own environment in approximately 90 minutes,” Commissioner Bowles said.
