Yorkshire emergency services agree health intervention plan

Launched on 21 November, the Yorkshire and Humber Emergency Services Prevention and Early Intervention Consensus Statement has been coordinated by Public Health England (Yorkshire and the Humber).

Among the signatories are Chief Constable Dave Jones from North Yorkshire Police, Julia Mulligan, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire, Chief Fire Officer Nigel Hutchinson from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and Rod Barnes, Chief Executive of Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

Police, ambulance and fire and rescue services share a long history of effective collaborative working, and the signing of the new consensus statement to extend this partnership approach is the first such regional agreement in the country.

With demand for health and social care rising, the main focus of the emergency services is to use their joint intelligence and skills to support communities with ill-health prevention and early intervention where problems are identified.

This includes greater sharing and development of referral pathways into key services such as falls prevention and support for mental health, alcohol and drug problems, advice to keep homes warm and social support to combat loneliness and isolation.

Chief Constable Dave Jones said: “Emergency service teams come into contact with vulnerable people every day and see health inequalities and social challenges first-hand.  By tackling these issues jointly and more effectively, the main aim is to improve the quality of life for individuals and families. This new active prevention and early intervention approach in our region will also reduce demand on the already busy emergency and health services.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan added: “This consensus is welcome news and something that I’m really proud to be a part of.  I truly believe that through collaborative working we can gain a better understanding of how to best protect the most vulnerable in society.  

“PCCs have a specific role to play given our oversight of policing services, and possibly fire services in future, but I am always looking to collaborate with health partners in particular.  The NHS and ambulance service are especially important given the collective focus on mental health, and we have made great strides between policing and health in North Yorkshire already.

“The more we build on this collaborative culture the better services will be for the public, especially the most vulnerable who tend to need a range of support services.”

Chief Fire Officer Nigel Hutchinson concluded: “This consensus statement builds upon existing strong partnerships that improve the safety of people across the region. It will provide a useful focus as the emergency services start to work closer together to improve health and well-being in our communities.”

Facilitated by Public Health England (Yorkshire and the Humber), the emergency services signed up to the consensus statement include:

• North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
• North Yorkshire Police
• Julia Mulligan, North Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner
• Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust
• Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust
• Humberside Fire & Rescue Service
• Humberside Police
• Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner
• South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service
• South Yorkshire Police
• South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner
• West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service
• West Yorkshire Police
• West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner
• British Transport Police
• NHS England
• Public Health England Yorkshire & Humber