THE needs of older people with mental health problems are to be championed by a care trust at a conference today.

The aim of the conference, organised by County Durham and Darlington Priority Services NHS Trust, is to raise the profile of mental health services for older people.

Delegates will hear about some of the trust's success stories, and are expected to share experiences and ideas on shaping future services.

Dr Stephen Ladyman, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Community, will be guest speaker at the event at the Ramside Hall Hotel, Durham.

Over the past four years, the trust has transformed its services for elderly people.

More than £10m has been spent building and refurbishing facilities, such as the Bowes Lyon Unit, in Durham, Sedgefield Community Hospital and Auckland Park Hospital, in Bishop Auckland.

Lesley Crawford, the trust's director for mental health services for older people, said: "We have an increasingly elderly population, which means more and more people over the age of 65 have mental health needs.

"These individuals and their carers have very special needs. We have been working hard with our partners in primary and social care, as well as the non-statutory sector, to develop our services and modernise our facilities, so that we can meet their expectations of a modern health care service."

Congratulating the organisers of the conference for keeping mental health services at the top of the agenda, Dr Ladyman said: "The planning and development of services for older people with dementia or depression is not always easy, but we must move away from services that simply react to illness to those that promote choice and independence, are person centred and respect for people's dignity.''