PLANS to build Scotland’s first secure hospital for adolescents in Irvine have been submitted to council chiefs.

If given the green light young people with potentially dangerous psychiatric disorders will be treated at a 12-bed forensic unit near Woodland View.

The plans come from NHS Ayrshire and Arran and if approved, the facility would begin construction in the next few years and accept referrals from anywhere in Scotland.

It will offer rehabilitation to young patients with complex psychiatric illnesses, autism spectrum disorder or learning disabilities who are deemed too high-risk to be treated in the community. 

This includes patients with a history of physical violence, sexually harmful behaviour, fire-setting and self-harm.

The National Secure Forensic Inpatient Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) would accommodate patients both male and female, up to the age of 19, and be located next to the new Woodland View adult acute mental health facility.

Annual running costs are estimated to be £3.89 million.

Scotland has no secure inpatient unit for children and teenagers who present high forensic risk.