An investigation has been launched after a patient at a mental health unit was found dead.

The 26-year-old was being treated on a medium secure ward at the Hellingly Centre, near Hailsham.

The ward is run by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

The female patient was discovered shortly after 3.30pm on Thursday and a spokesman for Sussex Police said the coroner had been informed.

It is not yet known how the patient died.

A trust spokeswoman said: “We can confirm there was a death at the Hellingly Centre, our medium secure service, on Thursday afternoon.

“Our thoughts and sympathies go to the family of the person concerned.

“We cannot comment further as the police are investigating.

“We have also launched our own internal investigation.”

The patient is believed to have been treated on the 15-bed Willow ward, which is for female patients.

Hellingly is a medium secure unit for people between 18 and 65 who have mental health problems and who have become involved with the criminal justice system.

It assesses and manages people whose conditions cannot safely be treated other than in a secure or supervised environment.

The centre has four specialist wards, each looked after by staff from a range of different backgrounds.

The trust, which runs mental health, substance misuse and learning disabilities across Sussex, was recently told it required improvement following an inspection by the Care Quality Commission.

In 2010 Sussex Police launched an investigation into five deaths at the trust’s hospitals, including two at the Woodlands Centre in St Leonards, which was temporarily closed.

However no criminal charges were brought as a result of the deaths and an independent investigation into Woodlands gave it the all clear.

The unit underwent a £500,000, patient-led redesign and all 33 bedrooms and bathrooms were refurbished before it reopened.

All staff were also given additional training and development, with specific attention given to risk management and suicide risk reduction.

Patient safety was also stepped up at Mill View Hospital in Hove after four patients committed suicide in 2010.

BACKGROUND

Sussex Partnership NHS Trust provides NHS care and treatment for people of all ages in the south east.

Its mental health services provide care and treatment for people with conditions such as psychosis, depression, anxiety, dementia and personality disorders.

Its specialist learning disability services provide community and inpatient care for people with complex health needs which can’t be met by other services.

It also has a number of services that provide very specialist care for people with complex health conditions and social care needs.

It provides support in people’s homes, in specialist clinics, hospitals, GP surgeries and prisons.