A NEW extension at a town's private hospital has led to the creation of more than 60 jobs.

Middleton St George Hospital and Care Homes on the outskirts of Darlington, formerly known as Trees Park, was bought by Affinity Healthcare in May 2000.

The company is investing in the hospital to develop mental health services in the town.

A £90,000 computer and IT network system has already been developed to link the hospital to a sister site at Cheadle Road in Cheshire.

The computer link allows staff at both hospitals to share information and streamline administration.

The Middleton St George Hospital offers a range of specialist psychiatric services, and the care homes look after 150 infirm and elderly people.

Specialisms at the new hospital extension include the treatment of depression, drug and alcohol misuse, anxiety and stress-related illnesses as well as severe and enduring mental illness.

Special programmes to deal with alcohol and drug addictions are also available at the hospital.

Arthur Robinson, chief executive of Middleton St George Hospital and Care Homes, said: "Since the acquisition of Trees Park by Affinity Healthcare in May 2000, a significant amount of money has been invested in the development of new services on the hospital site.

"We are now looking to fill a wide range of full-time and part-time nursing posts across the grades for both registered mental nurse and registered general nurses."

A recruitment open day is being held at the end of the month for anyone interested in joining the company and working at either the hospital or care home.

The recruitment day will take place on Saturday, April 27, from 10am, at the hospital in Middleton St George.

The hospital provides 15 acute and ten interim care beds and when it first opened there was concern from the NHS that both organisations would be recruiting from the same limited pool.

Fears were allayed when mental health managers visited the hospital on a fact-finding mission.

After the meeting, it was announced that NHS patients treated at the private hospital would be covered by the contract regarding their welfare and any complaints they might have thanks to a special agreement with the NHS watchdog.