STAFF working with older people with mental health problems have been praised for the quality of their efforts for the patients.

Workers at the Derwent Clinic, in Shotley Bridge Hospital, have become the first unit in County Durham to be awarded Practice Development Unit status by the University of Teesside.

They got the award for working well as a team, communicating well with each other, and developing care focused on the needs of their patients.

Practice Development Unit status is given to an area, which has a team committed to developing their service through innovation and multi-disciplinary working.

Better communication within the team and improved training for staff on how to care for their patients and understand their needs, means that patients get the high quality services they require.

New developments that have improved the quality of care include the development of a user group at Cuthbert House Day Hospital, which has led to patients being more involved in planning daily activities and making decisions about services.

On a day-to-day basis this has led to improvement in domestic and catering arrangements, with patients now having open access to hot drinks with the choice of mugs or cups.

Staff have regular meetings with carers of patients on the Lindisfarne ward - this gives them a better chance to share their concerns with staff, and become more involved in how care is provided.