New jobs as Priory Group opens care home in Prestwick

26/2/10

Priory Group, the UK's leading independent provider of mental healthcare, is expanding its care provision in Scotland with the opening of Berelands House, a care home for older people.

Berelands House, in Prestwick, is a purpose built nursing home with beds for 65 residents needing nursing or dementia nursing care. The home will be under the leadership of experienced manager Elizabeth McConnell and will create up to 50 jobs in the area.

Care will be provided in single, en-suite accommodation finished to the highest standard. There will also be a choice of lounges and dining areas and a secure, enclosed landscaped garden.

The dementia unit will reflect the very latest research in dementia care, focussing on a person's abilities. Dementia-signposting will assist with orientation and a reminiscence room is planned.

All residents will have access to carefully planned activities and a wide range of professionals including a hairdresser, chiropodist, optician and GP.

Sharon Butler, managing director of Priory Group Care Homes Division said: "Priory already has an excellent reputation in Scotland with the services offered at our Glasgow hospital. 

"We are making significant investments in older people's services over the next few years. Berelands House has been well received by healthcare professionals, particularly in light of the nursing and dementia nursing services it provides for the local community in Prestwick and the surrounding areas.

"The experience the Priory Group has in mental health, complex and long term care transfers very well into older people's services. People are now living longer and have more complex needs and associated health issues that we have the experience to care for. We are building on our already strong and established areas of expertise and offering an even more comprehensive range of facilities for service users."

Philip Scott, Chief Executive of the Priory Group, said: "The ageing population in Scotland means there is increasingly a need for high quality care homes. This has presented a perfect opportunity for the Priory to open its first Scottish care home for elderly people."

The Priory Group now plans to rapidly increase its portfolio of care homes for older people with further new builds in England and Northern Ireland.

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