PLANS have been unveiled to create a treatment centre in north Durham for people with mental health problems - but two existing units will have to close.

An overhaul of adult mental health services will see an in-patient unit built to cover the Durham, Chester-le-Street and Derwentside areas.

It will replace the outdated County Hospital, in Durham, and the Allensford Ward, at the Derwent Clinic in Shotley Bridge, near Consett.

Harry Cronin is director of mental health, learning disabilities and nursing at County Durham and Darlington Priority Services NHS Trust.

He said: "This is not just about providing state of the art facilities. Our aim is to strengthen and expand community services for people with mental illnesses.

"We want to put the service users at the centre of what we do and give them real choices about the treatment they receive."

The proposals also include providing rehabilitation services and beds in Derwentside, for patients experiencing a crisis.

Community-based services will also be extended outside office hours to run 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The primary care trusts which cover Derwentside, Durham and Chester-le-Street are holding a series of meetings to get the views of residents on the changes.

Andrew Young, chief executive of Durham and Chester-le-Street PCT, said: "Both PCTs are committed to modernising and improving local mental health services and looking at ways to ensure the continued development of our health services by listening to the views of our partner organisations and local people."

The consultation exercise will run until April 19. The first public meeting on the overhaul takes place in Collingwood College, South Road, Durham, on March 2, 10am to noon.

For further details, contact 0191-333 3033, or visit the website, www.cddps.nhs.u