@nprofile1q... even the Police round here realise this and are trying to get NHS and Social Services to attend first for mental health incidents, but the other services struggle to provide staff out of hours due to lack of funding...
But the issue with them turning up for ODs is due to NHS Ambulance Service *requesting* them as backup (they can now communicate across services with the digital radios by using a "mutual aid talkgroup") - if someone calls nines and asks for Ambulance they are put straight through to Ambulance Control - the 999 operator is at British Telecom, independent of the Emergency Services (unlike 911 call centres which appear to be Police led)
But the issue with them turning up for ODs is due to NHS Ambulance Service *requesting* them as backup (they can now communicate across services with the digital radios by using a "mutual aid talkgroup") - if someone calls nines and asks for Ambulance they are put straight through to Ambulance Control - the 999 operator is at British Telecom, independent of the Emergency Services (unlike 911 call centres which appear to be Police led)