A PIONEERING partnership between a national pharmacy chain and a mental health care trust has been launched in the region.

The contract between Boots and health chiefs in County Durham will lead to a new pharmacy service being provided at the £20m West Park hospital, due to open in Darlington this year.

The mental health facility is part of the growing West Park development, in the Faverdale area, that will also provide 700 homes, shops and a base for Mowden Park Rugby Club.

The hospital pharmacy will supply and dispense medication for in-patients, day patients and out-patients.

Wendy Broderick, chief pharmacist at County Durham and Darlington Priority Services NHS Trust, said: "The new development gave us an ideal opportunity to set up a purpose-designed hospital pharmacy that would meet the needs of 21st Century mental health care.

"We also hope that having a well-known community pharmacy like Boots in our hospital will add to its friendly environment and help people prepare for leaving hospital and returning home."

Digby Emson, director of professional services at Boots, said: "This will be Boots' first hospital pharmacy and it signals our intention to work closely with health and social care in a variety of settings."

The pharmacy is due to open at the end of the year.