THREE mental health facilities, costing a total of £12m, will open next week.

Sandwell Park, a mental health hospital in Hartlepool, opens to the general public for the first time on Monday.

An open day is being held to celebrate the completion of the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust's facility.

The building, in Lancaster Road, will replace adult and older person's mental health services that have been provided at the town's university hospital.

Sandwell Park consists of two clinical areas - Wingfield, providing 16 bedrooms for older people, and Lincoln, which has 16 bedrooms for adults.

There are a number of indoor spaces that can be used for a wide range of therapies.

In addition, there are two spacious courtyard/gardens for patients, visitors and staff.

A spokesman for the trust said: "Sandwell Park has been designed to provide a non-institutional environment, helping lessen the potential anxiety patients and carers experience when visiting."

Next Tuesday, two mental health and learning disability units will be unveiled at another open day, in Stockton.

The Dales, a learning disability assessment and treatment unit, and Lustrum Vale, a mental health facility for older people, will become operational later in the week.

The buildings, in Durham Road, Stockton, will replace mental health services for older people provided at the University Hospital of North Tees, and some learning disability assessment and treatment services in Hartlepool and Aysgarth, Stockton.

David Stephenson, Fast Track project manager for the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust, said: "These new buildings are a significant move and investment in mental health services and provide the people of Hartlepool and Stockton with a high-quality health care service.

"Particular attention has been placed on creating calm and welcoming environments that will assist in the therapies given, and I am confident that our patients will notice significant improvements.

"The process of designing and constructing these buildings has been an excellent example of consultation and involvement of patients, their carers and clinical staff."

The financing for the three buildings, has come from the Strategic Health Authority as well as trust funds.