How our service can help you
The AMHP service responds to requests from referrers who believe that a person in the community may need to be admitted to a mental health hospital using the Mental Health Act.
A person may need to have a Mental Health Act assessment when:
- There is an acute and critical deterioration in their mental health; or
- There is a gradual decline over time that has reached a critical point; and
- The person or those people around them are at significant risk of harm as a result of their current mental health.
The AMHP service should only be contacted when it is clear that there is no alternative, less restrictive solution. These could include:
- Family support
- Help from the GP
- An assessment of the persons social care needs and plan to support with these
- Input from mental health teams, such as the First Response Service, locality team, or crisis team.
An assessment under the Mental Health Act will consider whether it is necessary to detain a person to hospital under a section of the Act. A person will only be detained to hospital if:
- There is no other way to assess and provide care and treatment to the person safely in the community, and
- They are not able or not willing to agree to an admission, or to stay in hospital voluntarily.
Contact the service
-
Professionals and nearest relative referrals
T: 0345 245 0067Out of hours
T: 01733 234724
Contact the Emergency Duty Team for urgent referrals that cannot wait until the next working day - Business Hours/Visiting Hours: Monday-Thursday (9am-5pm) and Friday (9am-4pm)
Referral Information
-
Professionals such as a psychiatrist, GP, care co-ordinator, social worker, nurse, or a police officer can refer for consideration of a Mental Health Act assessment.
A 'Nearest Relative' can also ask the AMHP service to consider a referral, under Section 13(4) of the Mental Health Act. Please note that a Nearest Relative is defined by S26 of the Mental Health Act 1983 and is not always the same person as the 'next of kin'.
It is expected that you contact a GP or community mental health team first before contacting the AMHP Service.
Once a referral is received by the AMHP service, the AMHP on duty will screen the referral to ensure that a MHA assessment is appropriate. The AMHP will contact the referrer to discuss the circumstances in more detail.
The AMHP will check whether other ways of helping the person with their mental health have been tried first. These might prevent the need to use the MHA. For example, involving a crisis team or arranging for a review of the person's social care needs.
If a MHA assessment is appropriate, the AMHP will arrange or coordinate the assessment. Referrals are prioritised based on a risk assessment and the needs of the person or others.
The AMHP service covering Cambridgeshire and Peterborough operates Monday-Thursday (9am-5pm) and Friday (9am-4pm) can be contacted on 0345 245 0067.
Outside of these hours, urgent referrals that cannot wait until the next working day, contact the Emergency Duty Team on 01733 234724.If you are unsure as to whether you are the legal Nearest Relative for the person, please click the link below for further information Nearest relative - Under the Mental Health Act
Carers Information
-
A carer is anyone, including children and adults who looks after a family member, partner or friend who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction and cannot cope without their support. The care they give is unpaid.
At Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, we value the often life-long support carers provide and recognise them as equal care partners. We want to offer as much guidance and reassurance as possible, to help you in your caring role. You can find general information and support for adult carers, young carers and parent carers by following this link.
