S136 Mental Health Act Transport
Specialist conveyance to Place of Safety under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act. 45-minute confirmation guarantee, BILD ACT RRN crews, 24/7 across England.
What is Section 136?
Section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 (as amended) gives police officers the power to remove a person from a public place to a Place of Safety when they appear to have a mental disorder and to be in immediate need of care or control. The purpose is to allow examination by a registered medical practitioner and interview by an Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP).
The maximum period of detention under S136 is 24 hours, extendable to 36 hours with medical authorisation. Under the Policing and Crime Act 2017, police custody can only be used as a Place of Safety in exceptional circumstances for adults, and is prohibited entirely for under-18s — health-based S136 suites are the required destination.
NHS England's Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat guidance emphasises that transport should be provided by trained healthcare professionals in a clinical vehicle. Health Connections provides dedicated S136 clinical transport for NHS trusts and ICBs across England.
Our S136 Process
Referral Received
Police or NHS control room contacts our 24/7 dispatch line on 0333 300 2960. Referral details logged: location, patient presentation, risk indicators.
45-Minute Confirmation
Crew deployment confirmed within 45 minutes of referral. If confirmation cannot be given within this window, you are immediately notified with an alternative arrangement.
Crew Deployment
BILD ACT RRN PMVA-accredited two-person crew dispatched from nearest of 9 depots. Crew briefed on patient risk profile before departure.
Clinical Handover
Patient conveyed to designated Place of Safety. ePCR completed during transport (observations, interventions). Formal clinical handover to receiving team with MHA documentation.
Crew Requirements for S136
- ✓BILD ACT RRN PMVA accreditation — refreshed annually
- ✓Mental Health First Aid (MHFA England) — all S136 crew
- ✓Safeguarding Adults and Children — Level 4
- ✓Enhanced DBS on both barred lists — renewed every 3 years
- ✓MHA 2007 awareness training — updated annually
- ✓De-escalation and trauma-informed communication
- ✓Basic Life Support — refreshed annually
- ✓Conflict Resolution (healthcare setting)
- ✓Written MHA transport policy, reviewed annually
- ✓ePCR completion mandatory — every S136 journey
Coverage — 9 Depots Across England
S136 transport commissioned from our nearest depot to the point of referral.
📍 Sussex (HQ) — St Leonards on Sea
📍 Norfolk
📍 Birmingham
📍 Manchester
📍 Scotland
📍 Kent
📍 West Yorkshire
📍 Devon
📍 Hertfordshire
S136 Referral or Commissioning Enquiry
24/7 clinical dispatch. S136 referrals confirmed within 45 minutes.
📞 Call 0333 300 2960