Mental health crises forecast to become fastest-growing demand on North East ambulances

Mental health crises are expected to become the fastest-growing area of clinical demand faced by the North East Ambulance Service over the coming decade.

Forecasts produced by NEAS suggest that mental health and suicide-related incidents could account for 6.4% of all 999 calls by 2031, compared with 4.3% last year. The projection forms part of the trust’s new ten-year strategy for urgent and emergency care.

NEAS said its future model would include greater access to specialist clinical teams and closer working with mental health, community and social care services. The aim is to ensure more people receive appropriate support without automatically being taken to an emergency department.

Mental health is one of five clinical priorities identified by the trust, alongside respiratory illness, cardiac conditions, stroke and gastrointestinal problems. Its planning also reflects an ageing population, increasing levels of long-term illness and persistent health inequalities across the North East.

The ambulance service handled more than 1.47 million NHS 111 and 999 calls during the past year, including over 40,000 life-threatening emergencies. Chief executive Kevin Scollay said NEAS would continue protecting its emergency response while helping more patients access the right care closer to home.

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