A RADICAL scheme to provide around-the-clock care for people with mental health problems will be launched alongside Darlington's new £20m mental health hospital, it was revealed at the weekend.

Health chiefs are keen to introduce a seven-day, 24-hour mental health service for people in south-west Durham, covering Teesdale, Weardale and the Darlington area.

More than £500,000 of Government money has been allocated to the scheme, which will provide a call-out service for anyone in the area suffering mental health problems.

The scheme will complement plans to build a mental health care unit at West Park, in Darlington, to replace the Pierremont Unit at Darlington Memorial Hospital.

The 85-bed hospital will provide improved facilities, including private rooms for all patients and a more modern unit for people with acute mental problems.

The scheme will also help people who have problems organising their schedules and attending appointments.

Carers and specialists will be available to visit patients to discuss their problems.

The home support scheme and "assertive outreach service" hopes to combat the problem of patients missing appointments and then being difficult to trace.

Many patients' conditions worsen considerably without constant medication or support.

The scheme has been welcomed by mental health chiefs in the region, who have said that the scheme is well overdue.

Harry Cronin, director of mental health and nursing services for County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust, said: "The whole area of mental health in the Darlington and dales area has not been as good as we would like, but through this we are addressing the problem.

"There has not been a great deal of investment in mental health services in recent years, but this will give it the boost it needs.

"I think this is going to be a major step forward for the south of County Durham and Darlington in terms of providing a modern and comprehensive mental health service."

The funding will be provided over three years in the run up to the planned opening of the West Park unit, which is scheduled to begin operation in September 2004.