THE first private mental health unit of its kind in the region has opened, providing extra capacity for hard-pressed NHS hospitals.

The 14-bed high dependency unit at the new Middleton St George Hospital, near Darlington, is expected to be fully occupied within six months.

Virtually all the referrals are expected to be from NHS mental health units in the region, which have a severe shortage of suitable beds for long-stay, severely ill patients.

The private owners of the Middleton St George Hospital, Affinity Healthcare, say they have plans to expand the range of mental health facilities at the site, near Teesside Airport.

Executive director Arthur Robinson said Affinity is considering opening a special unit catering for teenage patients.

The unit, opened on the site of the former Trees Park care home complex, has caused some concern locally.

But the Mayor of Darlington, Councillor Doris Jones, gave the unit her approval after touring the site and unveiling a commemorative plaque.

After inspecting the high wire fences and sophisticated security camera system, Coun Jones said: "Mental illness is the same as any other illness. These people need to be cared for. I can give local people that reassurance now that I have had a look for myself."

Since the 22-acre site was purchased by Affinity Healthcare in May 2000 the company has invested £2.8m in refurbishing and upgrading facilities and employed an extra 60 people.

By the end of next year, the company expects to have spent about £3.5m.

Apart from the new high dependency Pine Unit, the hospital also has the acute general psychiatric Sycamore Unit, which has 12 beds, and the secure intensive care Rowan Unit, which has ten beds.

Demand for beds is so high in the NHS that the Rowan Unit is currently full and the Sycamore Unit has nine patients.

Dr Steve Barlow, forensic consultant psychiatrist at the Pine Unit, said: "We will primarily be taking people with chronic, severe, enduring mental illness, which is difficult to treat in ordinary acute hospital settings."

Patients accepted at the unit are expected to stay for about two years.

Mr Robinson said the aim of the treatment programme at the Pine Unit is to enable patients to return to ordinary NHS mental health units or, in some cases, return to living in the community.