I welcome the news that multiple organisations in Bolton have joined together in a mental health concordat in an attempt to join-up mental health provisions in Bolton.

The main aim of this agreement is to ensure that, regardless of which branch of health care provision someone turned to in a mental health crisis, they would receive excellent, compassionate care. Organisations such as health services, ambulance services, the Police, social care providers and voluntary organisations in Bolton have joined together in a concordat, and, more importantly, have started working on an action plan.

Together these organisation are striving to:

• Improve access to support before people reach crisis point.
• Provide urgent and emergency access to crisis care to those who need it.
• Maintain compassionate and high quality treatment, and care, for those in crisis.
• Help those recovering from a mental health crisis stay well and prevent future crises.

However, these organisations are not just working in Bolton, they are also working with their partners in the other areas of Greater Manchester.  By doing this they can ensure that nobody falls through the cracks and improve the joined-up working between the areas of Greater Manchester.

Bolton is one of the authorities in Britain leading the way on this issue, and I hope that other areas follow our lead and provide compassionate care for those in a mental health crisis.