Mental health helpline sees 68pc rise in calls over past 12 months - The Evesham Observer

Mental health helpline sees 68pc rise in calls over past 12 months

Evesham Editorial 16th Jul, 2021   0

CALLS to the mental health helpline operated by the local health trust increased by 68 per cent in the past year.

In all there were 298,736 contacts with patients requiring help with their mental health.

Figures also show there were more than half a million contacts with patients needing nursing or therapy care in their homes, 16,300 people were treated at minor injury centres and 3,320 patients were admitted to the trust’s community hospitals.

It is also estimated that the trust’s integrated community neighbourhood teams prevented around 20 hospital admissions per day.




The statistics are revealed in a summary of Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust’s performance in 2020-21 ahead of its annual general meeting.

The Trust provides mental health services across both counties and runs community hospitals, community nursing/therapy services which support people at home, health visiting and other support for children, young people and families, as well as range of specialist teams like sexual health and dentistry, in Worcestershire.


Its chief executive Sarah Dugan, chief executive, said: “It is now 10 years since the Trust was formed and this has been the most challenging of them all as we responded to the pandemic.

“But it has also shown us at our very best, dealing with everything that has come our way with a mixture of grit, determination, resilience, skill and some much needed humour too.

“Our staff have been amazing and have risen to the enormity of the challenges they’ve faced. From clinical and operational teams on the front line who do such incredible, life changing work, to the corporate and support staff who work really hard to ensure we are well placed to meet the needs of those we serve – they have all been a credit to our local communities and the wider NHS family.”

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