Ronald Gittens

Rt Hon Alistair Burt MP Minister of Stale for Community and Social Care Department of Health Richmond House 79 Whitehall London SWIA 2NS POC3000935580 Tel: 020 7210 4850 Mr A_ Walker North London Coroners Court 29 Wood Street Barnet ENS 4BE 2 0 MAy 2015 Dews M Walku Thank you for your letter of 12 March 2015 following the inquest into the death of Ronald Gittens: I was very sorry to hear of Mr Gittens' death and wish to extend my sympathy and sincere condolences to his family. You raise two matters of concern: The transfer of acute psychiatric patients when no bed is available and; The use of a Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Team (CRHTT) as "a filter to prevent patients in need of a bed from having access to a bed". You have also sent your report to the Baret; Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust: The concerns you raise are properly matters for the local Trust and I would expect them to respond appropriately to We give Trusts the freedom and discretion to arrange these matters in ways that best meet the needs of patients. However we insist that all patients receive timely, high-quality care. Where that does not happen, as in this case, Trusts must take action to put - right: [ appreciate that the issue of inter-trust transfers of at-risk psychiatric patients is indeed one relevant to all Mental Health NHS Trusts However; the responsibility for decision making in this area resides with the local NHS rather than the Department of Health: The Department of Health is committed to improving the care and support of people in mental health crisis. In February 2014, we launched the Crisis Care Concordat. The Concordat is a national commitment, agreed between all services and agencies that come into contact with people in crisis It sets out how will work together From you: things ~ they -

and be involved in the care and support of people in crisis, and how ensure that these people get the support need; when need it. ambition of the Concordat is for every local area to agree and deliver its own Mental Health Crisis Action Plan to improve crisis care in that area: Every locality in England now has such a plan in place. These plans include proposals for reviewing the provision of home treatment teams, hospital places of safety (s0 that people in mental health crisis are not detained in cells), and round the clock telephone helplines for people in crisis NHS England is one of the signatories to the Concordat to improve the of care and support for people in crisis. Their work includes identifying the causes of crises, and putting prevention and early intervention plans in place whenever possible: Iam grateful to you for bringing the circumstances of Mr Gittens' death to my attention and I hope that you find this reply helpful Ya Scu ALISTAIR BURT they they - they key = police system