A MINI-SHAKE UP of care for mental health patients is being planned in County Durham.

Six beds for patients needing continuous care at St John's Nursing Home, in Darlington, could be moved to Auckland Park Hospital, in Bishop Auckland, or the Sedgefield Community Hospital.

The proposals have been put forward by County Durham and Darlington Priority Services NHS Trust. They will be considered by Darlington borough councillors next week.

Trust chiefs want to establish centres of excellence for patients at Sedgefield's Hardwyke Ward and Auckland Park's Binchester Ward.

The two 16-bed units would cater for frail and vulnerable patients, as well as those with behavioural difficulties, including aggression, violence and intractable noisiness.

They would also provide care for people with dementia or other serious psychiatric disorders.

Relatives of patients at St John's will be consulted about a move to one of the two units.

Trust chief executive Sandy Taylor said: "The two continuing treatment units will be staffed by a multi-disciplinary team, whose skills will be enhanced and developed in varied therapeutic approaches.

"By re-configuring the in-patient provision, the skill mix on the units can be improved and additional community resources provided to the community teams in Sedgefield, Bishop Auckland, the Dales and Darlington.

"The proposals will be considered by Darlington council's social affairs and health scrutiny committee on Monday."