A new 60-bed care home for older people – similar to the award-winning Newbyres Village Care Home, Gorebridge – is being planned for Midlothian.

Midlothian Council cabinet has approved the decision to develop a site at Eastfield in Penicuik to provide a purpose-built new care home as well as extra care housing for older people.

It is planned that this new home will replace the current existing care home in Pentland House, Penicuik and will be run by Midlothian Council in partnership with an independent provider.

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Midlothian Council Cabinet Member for Social Work and Health, Councillor Jack Aitchison said: "This much-needed new facility will be able to meet the needs of older people in care today and will be of a similar standard to our award-winning Newbyres Village Care Home in Gorebridge.

"This new purpose-built site will ensure that older people in Midlothian get the highly specialised and targeted care when they most need it."

Residents, staff and relatives have all been consulted on the proposed development which would see Midlothian Council working with an independent sector provider to plan, develop and run the new care home.

Midlothian Council would then purchase 40 beds within the 60-bed home with the remaining 20 beds run independently.

Existing staff from Pentland House will be able to transfer to the new care home to ensure minimal disruption to residents and provide greater continuity of care. It is too early to estimate when the new home will open.

(GK/BMcC)