Just 288 of the 1,562 patients seen by the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) MHRV were sent to hospital.

Claire Fuller, mental health advanced practitioner for EEAST, said: ‘The vehicle has been a huge asset over the last 18 months and continues to support those in mental health crisis, through the 999 system.

‘As we have a mental health nurse on board the resource, we have been successful in reducing conveyance to A&E departments where there is no medical need. Our ambulance clinician can discharge on scene, making this far more appropriate for the service users than long waits in hospitals to see a mental health professional.

‘The MHRV provides quality mental health support from mental health trained professionals, allowing more of our ambulances to attend to medical emergencies.'

The service is staffed by an EEAST paramedic or emergency medical technician, and a mental health practitioner from Essex Partnership University Foundation Trust.

Mid and South Essex ICB funds the maintenance of the specialist electric vehicle, which was bought by NHS England.

The scheme, which operates seven days a week between 1pm and 1am, began with a 12-month pilot in April 2023, and was awarded a three-year contract in 2024 for the mid and south Essex area, operating in Basildon, Brentwood, Thurrock, mid Essex, and south east Essex.