Improving Police-Hospital Transitions
November 08, 2024
This agreement has standardized processes leading to smoother transitions for individuals apprehended by police under the Mental Health Act that require assessment in hospital emergency departments. The work reflects the strong commitment of community partners to provide an effective and integrated response to acute crisis situations across Huron and Perth Counties. Improving Police-Hospital transitions fits along a community crisis service continuum with other valued programs and resources.
The overarching goal of this work is safe and timely transitions of apprehended
individuals in crisis. The intent of the protocol is:
• To improve person centered care for people experiencing crisis.
• Develop a common approach to communication between police and hospital staff
to ensure safe, effective decision making.
• To protect health care worker safety and security through system improvements.
• Decrease police officer wait times in hospital emergency departments allowing
for more efficient use of police resources.
• To promote public safety.
This protocol has strengthened key working relationships between community partners which includes Stratford Police Service, Huron and Perth County OPP Detachments, Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance, Huron Health System and Listowel Wingham Hospitals Alliance. This new provincial and regional approach will further support our system partners such as paramedic services by ensuring patient and responder safety.
If you need someone to talk to, are struggling with your mental health or addiction, or need to be connected to mental health services please call the Huron Perth Helpline and Crisis Response Team at 1-888-829-7484.
If you, a family member, friend, or co-worker are in a situation where there is an
immediate risk of causing harm to yourself or others, please consider calling or texting 988 Suicide Crisis Helpline OR call 911.