MOVES are being made to modernise mental health and learning disability services in the region.

Tees and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust has started a major consultation process on the issue.

Chief executive Moira Britton said: "We are proud of the services we currently provide and feel we are at the forefront of mental health and learning disability provision.

"However, so we can continue to stimulate change and develop excellence, we must continually adapt to match the needs of our population."

In three recent documents, the Government set out new targets for mental health and learning disability services.

These included development of more responsive services, more community, primary and intermediate care alternatives to hospital-based provision.

Mrs Britton said: "The Government has set the health service a challenging agenda and set guidelines for the type of care and treatment people are entitled to expect, wherever they live.

"To continue to deliver the best possible care, we must re-evaluate how we deliver services and the premises we use to do that.

"A modern health service must be managed using modern levels of care, backed by modern premises and IT systems.

"With the help of stakeholders and continued dedication of staff, we will achieve these goals."

Outline proposals should be completed by the end of the summer, when they will be submitted to NHS regional offices for consideration.

Once they have been approved, and after further consultation, the plans should be implemented within four years.

"We are seeking genuine involvement in helping to shape our services for the future and it is for this reason we have launched this process," said Mrs Britton