Water Meadow View, which a 14-bed service for adults aged 18 has created over 100 jobs and is staffed by a comprehensive multi-disciplinary team, including medical, nursing, psychological, therapy and peer support roles promoting patients to have choice and involvement in their care and treatment.

Chris Oliver, chief executive of Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘The opening of Water Meadow View is a significant milestone for our trust and for specialist learning disability mental health services. It is the first of its kind in our area, there is no other specialist NHS offer like this within Lancashire and South Cumbria at present. This investment reflects our commitment to improving care, reducing health inequalities.'

Dr Jenny Shankland, associate medical director for learning disabilities, added: ‘We are ensuring that people with a learning disability can access high-quality, specialist mental health support in a modern and therapeutic setting.

‘It is part of our future vision and commitment to bring people the support they need closer to home and their social connections, which we know is vitally important for those with mental health illnesses but in particular for those who also have a learning disability.'