East Lothian out-of-hours emergencies
Emergency/urgent support is available via the Intensive Home Treatment Team (IHTT). This operates from 08:00-midnight, 7 days per week, 365 days per year.
East Lothian Intensive Home Treatment Team (IHTT)
The Intensive Home Treatment Team (IHTT) is a multidisciplinary, community-based service providing high-quality mental health care, treatment, and support to adults aged 18 and over who are experiencing an acute mental health crisis or significant deterioration in their mental health. The IHTT service operates 7 days per week, from 8:00am to 12:00 midnight.
The team aims to provide early intervention, minimise immediate risk, improve overall functioning, and support individuals in resolving acute social and interpersonal difficulties. IHTT offers an alternative to hospital admission where appropriate, supporting individuals safely within their own community.
IHTT serves as the gatekeeper to inpatient mental health wards and plays a key role in reducing hospital admissions and facilitating early discharge, ensuring continuity of care and support during transition back to the community.
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Who can refer
- Referrals may be initiated by a GP, Nurse Practitioner, or Practice Nurse. For individuals who are currently under the care of Community Mental Health Teams (CMHT), Substance Use Services (SU), Older Adults Mental Health Services (OA), or Perinatal CMHT, initial contact should be made with the patient’s existing care provider to discuss concerns prior to referral to the IHTT.
- Patients can self-refer to the East Lothian Mental Health Single Point of Contact (see below).
Who to refer
Adults in East Lothian aged 18 and over who are experiencing an acute mental health crisis or significant deterioration in their mental health.
How to refer
Where a patient can provide a clear history and there is no immediate risk identified, they may be advised to self-refer via the East Lothian Mental Health Single Point of Contact (SPOC), which can be contacted on 0300 790 6292, Monday to Friday between 09:00 and 16:00.
If the patient is unable or unlikely to self-refer, professionals may, with patient consent, pass on details via telephone on the same number or by email to loth.elspocmentalhealth@nhs.scot. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS EMAIL IS FOR PROFESSIONAL USE ONLY. The SPOC number also provides access to a professional advice line, offering same-day call-backs for referral guidance.
Out of hours referrals to IHTT must be discussed by telephone in the first instance. To make a referral, please contact the team on 01620 642910, where a member of the IHTT team will discuss the referral. If accepted, referrers will be asked to provide a brief written summary of the individual’s presenting concerns via email to loth.elihtt@nhs.scot. Referrals cannot be accepted without prior telephone discussion.
