By Tom Clarke

Last updated at 10:35, Saturday, 31 July 2010

The NHS Incident Response helpline, set up in the wake of Derrick Bird’s killing spree in west Cumbria, is to reduce its hours of operation next month.

The helpline had been available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week since the murders on June 2 but the line will only be available during normal working hours; 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 4.30pm on Fridays, from August 6.

Callers will still able to speak to trained counsellors and psychologists.

Liz Bolt, consultant clinical psychologist, was happy with the service the helpline had provided over the past weeks. “The helpline has been an extremely valuable route [for people to seek help] and we have been able to offer many callers support and advice,” she said.

She said the decision to reduce the operational hours of the helpline had been taken after a decline in calls.

The line was not being used out of hours in the past few weeks, she said.

She stressed that many people were still coming forward for help and said it could take up to a year for some people to be affected.

The helpline is available on 01946 523666.

First published at 09:02, Saturday, 31 July 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk