Mental health base ready for go-ahead

The project, to be based inside a purpose-built property, will be the first new scheme to be operated by Blackburn with Darwen Council and the new Lancashire Mental Health Trust, to be created in April.

Around £250,000 was allocated to the project by the government in 1999, leaving the council to find a further £500,000.

They secured that cash last November when, in partnership with local health authorities, they were awarded £500,000 by the government's North West Regional Office.

The money will be given to the new Lancashire Mental Health Trust which is taking on all the mental health responsibilities of Lancashire's existing hospital trusts in April.

Councils across the county had opposed the creation of the new trust, arguing it would be too large.

Currently, the only mental health provision in Darwen is in the form of the Limes, which only has the capacity to cater for limited numbers of people.

A report to this Thursday's executive board meeting at Blackburn with Darwen Council states that the new facility

will be based within a purpose-built centre and will be able to cater for a wider range of mental illnesses and offer more support.

Sue Reid, executive member for social services, said: "This project will make a major contribution to the modernisation of mental health resources in the borough.

"It provides us with a significant opportunity for a partnership approach by the borough council and the health service to the delivery of high quality mental health services.

"We were successful in our bid to the department of health for £250,000 of supplementary credit approvals to part fund the new, much needed community mental health resource centre in Darwen.

"Up until now, this part of the borough had virtually no dedicated mental health resources except for the Limes."

The running costs will be met by the mental health trust and the council, which will use rents from other centres to cover its costs.