Market Analysis

Collected data from CQC, National Market Statistics, ONS and Medway Council provides an informed record of care provision in a 5 mile radius of Chatham Waters.

In the catchment area there are a total of 1,386 beds, of which 789 have en-suites and 423 are dedicated to dementia. The number of wetrooms, which all new homes would provide, is just 298 (21.5%). This, and the size of homes, indicates many conversions and old stock.

The demand is derived from Census information, and generates a need for 1,720 beds in 2026. Provision in the area is short of 334 beds (19% of the required number).

However, these figures do not account for uneconomic homes or outdated accommodation.

Further detailed analysis is required to gain a better view of the real demand.

Existing homes have been individually assessed (desktop based) and graded from 1 (very poor) to 12 (excellent) based on the accommodation and the quality of service (as reported by CQC). These scores are then grouped into A grade (12-9), B grade (8-5) and C grade (4-2). Homes with 20 or fewer beds have been excluded.

Only A grade homes are considered to be of sufficient quality to be competitive to the proposed project. B and C grade accommodation is generally in converted and extended buildings which present access problems, typically with level changes and narrow corridors, smaller than required dayspaces, lack of storage and inadequate bathing facilities. Creating en-suites can be challenging because of drainage issues. Features such as: bistro, cinema, physiotherapy room, hairdressers salon and hobbies room are unable to be provided. The average space per resident is 40-45 sqm per patient, whereas new premises are around 55 sqm.

Residential care homes

13 homes have been categorised as residential care homes. Of these, 3 are A grade and provide 158 beds. The majority of these homes have been constructed within the last 25 years and offer en-suite bedrooms. Older stock in the remaining 10 homes will offer little competition to the project and this discounts 405 beds.

Nursing homes

13 care homes fall into this category providing 730 beds. There are 6 A grade homes offering 464 beds. Of the 13 homes 8 have a capacity of less than 60 which is considered to be the threshold of economic stability. Taking a similar view as the assessment of residential care homes 266 beds can be discounted.

This research scores up to 671 (52%) of current beds as potentially inadequate for the quality of service and/or accommodation.

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