The country’s largest independent provider of health and social care will operate a new care home.

The firm, Care UK, is set to take on the new facility, being built at Kent Medical Campus, close to junction 7 of the M20 in Maidstone. when it open is Summer 2020.

The new home will provide 24-hour nursing accommodation for up to 75 older people, providing a mix of rehabilitation, respite, and dementia care.

It will offer step-down care for patients who are well enough to leave hospital but not ready to return home, reducing pressure on local hospitals.

Care UK is one of the largest providers of residential care for older people, operating 119 care homes providing both residential and nursing care, with a further 20 currently being built.

When open, the new home will create around 100 full-time equivalent jobs, with the new employees joining Care UK’s team of 8,000 people who deliver care to more than 7,000 residents every day.

Tony Collins, Chairman of Kent Medical Campus, said: “The decision by Care UK, combined with the recent opening of Cygnet Healthcare’s new hospital, means that Kent Medical Campus will soon be home to two leading national care providers, as well as Kent’s largest independent hospital KIMS.

"Care UK has recognised that Kent Medical Campus offers the right location and environment, and that it fits perfectly with its position as market leader.”

He continued: “We are delighted to welcome another Grade A care provider to Kent Medical Campus.

“The extent of Care UK’s collaborative business model with the NHS and public sector agencies nationwide is genuinely inspiring and we believe will enable commissioners locally and throughout the County to benefit from the range of services planned for the new facility at Kent Medical Campus."

“We welcome the contribution this much needed facility will make to the Campus’ efforts to make Maidstone an attractive location for dynamic organisations involved in health, research and education.”

Care UK’s development director, Richard Pearman, said: “We are currently finalising the design of the new care home in conjunction with the developers of the building to ensure it works as well as possible for the people who will live there and our colleagues.

“Each of our care homes provides an impressive range of services for older people, ranging from short stay respite care to nursing care, end of life care, plus specialist care and support for people living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

“Care UK is proud to be operating the next generation of purpose-built care homes and delighted to have secured the care home at Kent Medical Campus.”

Commenting on the news, Cllr Martin Cox, Leader of Maidstone Borough Council, said: “News of Care UK’s impending arrival sends out a very positive message about Maidstone as a place for progressive businesses. It is a further endorsement of our decision to support the vision for Kent Medical Campus as a major employment site in the borough.”

Local firm Gallagher has started the groundworks for the care home on Gidds Pond Road.