A service which helps protect the rights of people experiencing mental health issues is set to continue in York as it faces increasing pressure and a rise in demand.

City of York Council’s Executive has agreed to retender the contract to run the city’s Advocacy Hub before the current one expires in March.

Council adult services lead Sara Storey said the service helped to provide a voice for vulnerable people who need to be deprived of some rights in order to be treated.

Health executive member Cllr Lucy Steels-Walshaw said the Hub was vital to empower people when decisions were being made about them.

It comes as a council report stated the service had seen a significant increase in its Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) sessions in the last two years.

People who are subject to restrictions under the Mental Health Act including being detained for treatment have a legal right to IMHA to provide safeguards and speak on their behalf.

The number of referrals for IMHA in York rose from 353 in the year up to March 2023 to 374 12 months later while sessions increased from 5,625 to 5,878.

The total number of referrals including those related to social care rose from 882 to 895 during the same period, with sessions increasing from 12,664 to 18,273.

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Significant delays in patient discharges due to limits in placements and resources have led to admissions being prolonged.

Frequent re-admissions have also increased often due to patients quickly deteriorating.

The seriousness and complexity of patients’ cases has also increased and opportunities to intervene earlier have been missed, making it harder to treat them.

The council’s report stated a sharp increase in demand seen in the last year is thought to be a one-off and it is expected to stabilise going forward.

The contract being tendered by the council runs for an initial three years with the option to extend it by a further two and is worth £1,994,000.

The service is currently run by the Mind mental health charity.

The Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) has agreed to continue contributing £52,000-a-year towards the Advocacy Hub.