AUCKLAND,NZ - JUNE 03 2014:Traffic Police officer pointing his radar gun at speeding traffic.Traffic Police Monitor traffic to ensure motorists observe traffic regulations and exhibit safe driving procedures. Photo: Rafael Ben-Ari/Chameleons Eye/ 123rf
It's only two weeks until phase one of a planned police withdrawal from most mental health-related calls takes effect and health workers fear what the changes mean for an already stretched workforce and for their own safety.
Police announced the plan earlier this year and laid out a clear phased approach to the withdrawal.
It came after years of both the police and health sector agreeing police were not the best agency to deal with all mental health patients and the resourcing required of police was becoming unsustainable.
The first phase of the plan comes into effect in early November and involves police not staying with patients once they have been transported to a hospital emergency department, a higher threshold more generally for police transport requests and a higher threshold required for police attendance at mental health facilities.
New Zealand Nurses Organisation mental health sector chair Helen Garrick, who works as a mental health nurse says a plan is now being worked through with Health New Zealand, but has massive fears for how the workforce will cope and has concerns for her colleagues' safety.
Kathryn also speaks to Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey.
