A multi-million pound extension to Mill View Hospital in Hove is ready for business.

The extension marks the completion of the second and final phase of a major redevelopment of mental health hospital services in Brighton and Hove.

The £4.6 million development includes 40 bedrooms with en suite facilities, lounge areas, quiet rooms and kitchen areas to help patients learn to become more independent.

It brings the total number of beds at Mill View to 89.

The first phase of the development was the opening of the main hospital building in 1998, which provided facilities including single bedrooms, an intensive care unit and a large restaurant.

It replaced the cramped New Sussex Hospital in Windlesham Road, which had been built in 1913.

The eventual aim was to move all patients based at the New Sussex, Brighton General Hospital's Freshfield unit and the White House Day Hospital in Hove to the new building.

Many patients were able to transfer to the hospital but others had to wait until the second phase was completed.

In the meantime those at the Freshfield unit, where the facilities were inadequate, were transferred to the Westbourne Hospital in New Church Road. Hove.

They are now due to move into the extension in October.

The extension, linked to the main hospital via a new walkway, is made up of three separate wards which have the same facilities.

Each ward has a central nurses area, quiet rooms and separate smoking and non-smoking lounges.

Art donated by the Paintings in Hospitals charity line the walls of the extension and all rooms are decorated in subtle colour shades.

The extension includes features created for the building by design students at Brighton University.

These include a ceramic mural and an outdoor bench.

The ward has its own separate laundry area and kitchen and art room, which is used for occupational therapy and rehabilitation. Each patient is given a swipe card when they come into the hospital so they can go in and out of their room easily.

In an emergency staff can override the lock and go into the room but the main idea is to give patients security.

One of the wards is used to help people with severe alcohol or drug abuse problems.

Janet Macdonald, commissioning manager for the second phase of the project, said: "This should make all the difference to patients and staff to be in such a modern and well-developed environment.

"The aim is to make sure patients are able to keep their dignity while staying at the ward."

The hospital is run by South Downs Health NHS Trust, which provides community, mental health and rehabilitation services in the Brighton and Hove area.