The Trust is one of seven in the county to share the contract with the Ministry of Defence for providing mental health care to forces personnel.

Grantham's Sycamore Assessment Unit will be used one of the facilities used as part of the deal.

It will be part of a network of hospitals across the country which will ensure patients can be treated close to home or their parent unit.

This is the first time the NHS has been contracted to provide such a service, with previous contracts having been awarded to the private sector.

Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Trust chief executive Chris Slavin said: "The development of a network of hospitals to provide care across the country in this way is a first for the NHS and we are delighted to be a part of it.

"This innovative and exciting approach has been made possible by the fact that all the participating trusts are some of the highest performing mental health NHS organisations in the country.

"Lincolnshire has a long and special relationship with the Armed Forces, and we are delighted that we will be able to serve personnel in this way."

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