THE Duchess of Kent Psychiatric Hospital at Catterick Garrison has closed, ending almost 200 years of military history.
The Ministry of Defence and the Priory Group, whose clients have included Paul Gascoigne and Kate Moss, have signed a three-year contract worth between £3m and £5m to treat up to 350 patients a year suffering from mental health problems, including depression and alcoholism.
The hospital's in-patients have been moved to some of the 15 Priory clinics around the country.
The hospital closed after a handover between Garrison Commander, Colonel Jonny Hackett and the last Commanding Officer of the hospital, Lieutenant Colonel David Collie. It will be renamed the Duchess of Kent's Barracks and will be used as offices.
Lt Col Collie said: "It's a sad day for medical services but things move on and the care will be passed to a private provider."
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