A REPORT praising the work of a health unit that provides around-the-clock care for people with severe mental health problems has been released.

Service users and carers gathered in Darlington on Tuesday to receive the report highlighting the work of Earlston House, a unit of the County Durham and Darlington Priority Services NHS Trust.

The report was published by the Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) forum, a body independent of the trust charged with monitoring its work on behalf of patients and the public.

About 30 people attended the meeting at Darlington's Clifton Centre.

Forum members Joan Durkin and Alan Horsfield compiled the report.

They presented it to unit manager, Stephen Luke, and discussed their positive findings with the carers.

PPI forum chairman, Patrick Nethercot, said: "Our findings showed the responses to the unit were all extremely positive about its work.

"Forum members paid tribute to Mr Luke and his staff for the care they give."