Mental Health Urgent Response Team

We accept urgent and emergency referrals where there is a requirement for specialist mental health assessment: 

  • Psychosis, bipolar, chronic or severe depression or anxiety where levels of risk and complexity require treatment by specialist mental health services 
  • Severe personality disorder where there is a clear role for secondary services 
  • Dual diagnosis of complex and severe mental illness and alcohol/substance misuse where mental illness is the primary need 
  • Self-harm, harm to others, harm from others or serious self-neglect due to complex presentations associated with severe mental illness 
  • Complex trauma where needs cannot be met by primary care psychological services 
  • Perinatal mental health problems 
  • Military veterans  

Making a referral

Emergency and urgent referrals to our Urgent Response Team for specialist mental health assessment can be made by GPs and other health and care professionals using our referral form below: 

Biopsychosocial Referral - Wigan v6.5.docx

Please be aware that to prioritise patient safety, we are only able to accept referrals that meet service criteria. 

Referrals will be returned if there is insufficient information to allow clinicians to be able to make an informed decision around the requirement for specialist assessment - for example, blank or incomplete referral forms. 

Contacting the team

If you are making an emergency referral you must also contact the team using its professionals line 01942 636 395 whilst the patient is with you. This is to ensure you can discuss and agree an immediate safety plan for your patient.

Following a referral

Following a referral, the Mental Health Urgent Response Team will strive to assess the patient (service user) in a holistic and biopsychosocial style, understanding all health, psychological and social needs, in a timeframe in accordance with the referral pathway.  

The team will endeavour to complete an assessment, in collaboration with the patient/service user, family/carer of the patient's strengths, goals and existing support, whilst collaboratively assessing risk and formulating a safety management plan.  

As a patient

As a service user, relative or carer using our services, sometimes you may need to turn to someone for help, advice, and support. 

Find resources for carers and service users  Contact the Trust