A CENTRE to help elderly people recover after leaving hospital is to be created in Bridport as part of an £80 million investment.

The 60-bed facility, at the former Sidney Gale Care Home site, will be Dorset’s first reablement centre for older people.

Funding of £28.32m has now been approved for the redevelopment of the site, which will focus on supporting residents who are discharged from hospital, or who are recovering after a fall or illness in their own home.

In 2022, Dorset Council’s Cabinet authorised an £80m investment pot to build up to three homes to ensure there are enough reablement and rehabilitation services in the county.

A report to councillors at Tuesday’s meeting said the Bridport scheme would bring savings of around £3.47m in its first year, and around £2m each year thereafter.

“The centres are not hospitals or long-term care homes, but places where people receive short-term, intensive care and therapy in a home-like environment,” a council spokesperson said.

They said services provided at the council-owned Bridport site will:
* Improve health outcomes for our residents, including preventing hospital admissions.
* Reduce pressure on NHS beds and services, including preventing admissions.
* Ensure that the council has sufficient care services to meet future demand for care.

Cllr Steve Robinson, cabinet member for adult social care, said the Sidney Gale site in Bridport was a prime location with good access to the town.

“It is close to our proposed Extra Care Housing development, supporting our ageing well in communities policy and has the potential for added value mixed use, additional facilities and key worker accommodation nearby,” he added.

“Reablement centres are fantastic in ensuring that people can continue living independently in their community after illness and to cope with the consequences of old age.

“They support and encourage people’s highest level of participation in their own care – such as dressing, moving around the home and relearning domestic tasks, ensuring they are as active as possible within their own community.”

The council has identified providing services for elderly people as a priority, due to Dorset’s ageing demographic.

Supporting people to return home after time spent in hospital will help address a projected shortage of nursing beds available in the county to meet demand by 2030.

“Without this type of investment, residents face spending longer times in hospital, and once discharged, are likely to be transferred to care homes rather than go home,” the spokesperson added.

A planning application will come forward next year, and if successful, construction will start in early 2026 with the opening planned for 2028.

Talks for a second site, on the Dorset County Hospital estate in Dorchester, are continuing, the council said.