Introduction
The Integrated Access Partnership (IAP) is a collaborative, award winning, innovative endeavour which is transforming urgent and emergency care services (999 and 111) for people in mental health crisis.
In collaboration, BrisDoc Healthcare Services (BrisDoc), Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership Foundation Trust (AWP) and South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) – as well as Avon and Somerset Police, Avon Fire and Rescue, and voluntary sector organisations – have implemented an integrated urgent and emergency care front door service across both 999 and 111 for people in mental health crisis. The service provides three layers of intervention and trusted onward referrals to support any person presenting with mental health needs to 999 or 111; providing remote advice through a multidisciplinary mental health team, or a rapid face-to-face response through a network of ‘mobile pods’ across the area.