New £12m care home offering state-of-the-art facilities set to open in Alnwick

The 86-bed Beech Tree House, on Lisburn Terrace, will be officially opened by the Duchess of Northumberland on Monday, September 21.

The state-of-the-art facility will provide nursing and residential care, catering for young physically disabled, bariatric and dementia as well as general nursing residents.

The investment by Prestwick Care, a division of Malhotra Group Plc, has created 100 jobs.

Staff have been doing induction training in recent weeks in preparation for the grand opening, which will take place with Covid-19 restrictions in place.

Chairman Meenu Malhotra admitted the timing is not ideal given the threat of a second coronavirus wave.

"Of course we are concerned about Covid-19 but we have policies and safety procedures in place,” he said.

“Non-essential people are not allowed in and staff will self-isolate if need be. Barrier care is also available if needed and everyone will be tested before they come in.

"The home has been three years in the making. We are four months behind schedule due to Covid but we are very pleased with the end product. The facilities we’re providing are still needed, even if the timing is not brilliant.”

Managing director Devinder Malhotra added: “This is our flagship home and we’re very proud of it. It’s not just a care home – it’s a bespoke state-of-the-art facility that creates a centre of excellence for Northumberland.

"It provides much-needed specialist facilities for bariatric care, dementia and brain injury patients, there’s a young physically disabled unit and elderly residential care facilities. It will stand the test of time and we anticipate people will come from far and wide.”

The company also operates 50-bed Hillcrest Care Home, off South Road, which it bought in 2019 and has seen its rating upgraded to ‘good’ by the Care Quality Commission.

It also sponsors Alnwick’s Christmas lights display, putting up an initial £7,000 with further annual payments of £5,000 until 2023 at least.

“We want to part of the community, which is why we decided to sponsor the Christmas lights,” said Meenu. “We are a family business and our ethos is very much that we are there to support and help the community wherever we can, not just run the care home.”

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