Mental health unit sites decided

A health trust has revealed its planned sites for new mental health inpatient units in Lancashire.

Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust has earmarked Wyndyke Farm, Blackpool, Royal Albert Fields in Lancaster and Ribbleton Hospital in Preston.

In East Lancashire, the preferred site is Shuttleworth Mead but planning issues need to be resolved with Burnley council, the authority said.

The locations were chosen from a shortlist of 15.

The decisions follow public sessions where residents gave their views on the sites.

'Therapeutic environment'

The trust will now apply for planning permission and draw up detailed plans for the units.

Chief Executive Finlay Robertson said the trust could now move forward and make "real progress".

"The next key decision is which site should be developed first and the trust will be working with primary care trusts over the next couple of months to agree this," he said.

"We expect to invest around £150 million to provide the new units. This is the first time that mental health services in the county have seen investment on such a scale.

"The new units will be designed to create a therapeutic environment with access to garden space and fresh air."