residents are being asked to give their views on plans to provide improved accommodation for people with learning disabilities.

The future of the Greenbank Unit, in Darlington, which provides respite and residential care for people with learning disability and mental health problems, is in doubt after concerns over the suitability of the unit as there are no lifts and access to toilets and bathrooms is poor.

There are five residents at the 14-bed unit as well as three people who use if for short-term stays.

Darlington Borough Council's Social Care Scrutiny Committee has raised concerns about the standard of the accommodation.

It is proposed to move the residents to alternative accommodation which is better suited to their needs.

Decisions about future accommodation would be based on individual assessments and in consultation with relatives, carers and advocates.

Lesley Crawford, director of learning disabilities at County Durham and Darlington Priority Services NHS Trust said: "We want to ensure that the people we care for are receiving the best possible care in the best possible environment and the accommodation in the Greenbank Unit is not conducive to good patient-centred care."

The consultation runs until May 7.

For information about the proposed move log on to www.cddps.nhs.uk, or call 0191-333 6531.