ALMOST £22m is being ploughed into improving services across Worcestershire for people with mental health problems, it has been revealed.

The massive cash injection will see a host of changes, including £16m from NHS coffers, spent on extending and modernising Newtown Hospital, in Newtown Road, Worcester, which the Evening News exclusively revealed last week.

In addition to improvements to the hospital, there will also be a new 22-bed, £3.5m Intensive Nursing Recovery Unit, based at 220 Newtown Road, for seriously-ill patients.

"This is an ideal venue," said a spokesman for Worcestershire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust, which is spearheading all of the projects.

"It is close to acute inpatient and general medical facilities and the wider infrastructure is there to support clinical services.

"This will enable the county to provide a continuum of care that meets both the population's mental health needs and the requirement of improving local access to services."

Currently the trust runs a rehabilitation unit from the site, which under the proposals would be moved to Cromwell House, in Turrall Street, Worcester City centre, which will have a £500,000 makeover.

"This would enable the trust to relocate this client group to enable them to make further recovery from their disability and lead a more fulfilled life in the community, enabling more robust integration with mainstream services," added the spokesman.

The trust is also in discussions with a private company in a bid to buy The Gatehouse, next to Cromwell House, which would then be converted into eight residential homes for people with long-term mental health problems.

Another planned project will see the creation of a new, £1.6m Malvern Mental Health Resource Centre, at the existing Rowan House in the town, again funded by the NHS.

"This will see mental health services provided as close as possible to where people live and designed, shaped and targeted to meet the needs of individual service users," said the spokesman.

Read Health Matters in tomorrow's Evening News to find out more.