A COMMUNITY mental health facility at the Latton Bush Centre in Harlow has been officially opened by MP Bill Rammell.

The Community Mental Health Team and Lantern Centre moved to Latton Bush from Princess Alexandra Hospital in May 1998 in a bid to streamline service delivery.

An Essex and Herts Community NHS Trust spokesperson said that in the future it is intended to expand activities to include the development of an outreach team.

Harlow MP Bill Rammell said: "I was very impressed by the way in which the mental health service is being developed and is providing much more therapeutic support for users of the service.

"Mental health affects millions of people in Britain and it's absolutely right that it is now one of the top three priorities of the NHS. The service is developing and improving for the people of Harlow."