Council considers building its own care home
LDRSA Kent council is considering building and operating its own care home amid a shortage of places.
Medway Council has suggested it could offer residential and nursing accommodation in a bid to ease strain on local services and create extra jobs and business for local firms.
Medway had a total of 1,685 care home beds in April 2024, but many residents are placed outside the area due to a lack of places.
A range of options will be discussed by Medway councillors on the health and adult social care committee at a meeting on Thursday.
These include refurbishing council-owned properties, constructing a new building on council-owned land intended for another use, purchasing a new site to build a care home, or ditching the project.
Irrespective of whatever option is taken, the need for care home places will increase and cost the local authority regardless, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
The estimated cost of the project, including construction and debt repayments, is £26.4 million over 30 years.
Care home running costs are estimated at around £5.6 million.
A report into the issue states the council is considering whether building and operating the care home is viable and suitable.
A decision on whether the plans can progress will be made after this consideration.
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