6. What assessment has the Minister made of the provision of out-of-hours mental health services? OQ55980

We have commissioned two separate reviews to support improvements to our out-of-hours crisis care services. We continue to work with partners to improve the multi-agency response that is required to support people who present in crisis.

Diolch, Gweinidog. I'm so pleased that the Twilight Sanctuary service is now up and running in Pembrokeshire. For the next few months, it will provide a safe refuge for adults experiencing mental distress in those crucial hours when other support services are closed. It follows the success of that project in Llanelli. As a preventative service, it provides early access to help, and that goes a long way to reducing dependence on core mental health services, thereby easing the strain in the system at this very difficult time for people. So, will you be monitoring this scheme to see whether the three-month pilot can be extended and replicated and rolled out across the country?

Diolch yn fawr, Joyce. Of course, this is a programme that has been rolled out as a result of the pilot that happened in Llanelli, so it is good to see that that has worked well, and I think we've got to recognise that people don't just have mental health crises between nine and five, which is why we have to make sure that that 24-hour service is available. What's been great is that the mental health crisis concordat group have really brought together a whole range of groups. Social and welfare issues are being addressed there, but of course, the police and local authorities are integral to making sure that we address this in the right way. The NHS delivery unit is undertaking a detailed review of crisis and liaison services and the sub-group will now be set up to make sure that we look at the conclusions of that concordat group and that we put those into practice over the next year.