A NEW centre offering residences to help people recover from mental illness has been opened in Westhoughton.

Directors and patients gathered at Mary Seacole House in Brancker Street, a unit created by Northern Healthcare, as Bolton West MP Chris Green unveiled the plaque at the building.

It offers 22 luxury flats and trained health professionals to allow mental health patients to recover in the community.

Noel Tracey, CEO of Northern Healthcare, said: "This launch is to let the Bolton residents know what we are about and to get rid of some of the misconceptions about mental illness.

"We are looking at creating something new, which is an enhanced supported living model. It is not just about providing accommodation but it is about highly skilled qualified staff that can prevent people from relapsing and going in and out of hospital.

"Not only do we have the environment but we give people the sense that they are valued as a person.

"We are trying to adopt very modern thinking and we are trying to break the mould of what traditional mental health services look at.

"We spotted a gap in the market and it was around the people who would get well in hospital, go out to living in the communities with no support and then go back in to hospital. People need the support so they can live in the community."

As well as both one and two-bedroom flats, the centre offers 24-hour support with nursing cover.

Unveiling the plaque, Mr Green said: "I am delighted to open this Northern Healthcare unit for supported living.

"I think what you do here will be fantastic for the people living in the community. It is so important to give people the care and support they need."