WORK is nearing completion on an 80-bed nursing home in Fareham which aims to solve the county's beds crisis.

The £6m building scheme on the former Coldeast Hospital site is the first of ten being carried out as part of the £60m ENHANCE project to provide 500 nursing home beds across Hampshire.

The county council, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Strategic Health Authority and all the county's primary care trusts launched the project in response to a serious lack of beds available for a growing elderly population.

Hawthorne Court in Sarisbury will be the first building opened when it becomes ready for use early next year.

The purpose-built two-storey building will offer a range of care for those with general nursing needs, dementia, physical frailty or in need of short-stay convalescence.

There will be 80 en suite bedrooms, an occupational therapy room, medical room, visitors' room, staff offices, a kitchen and laundry.

County council leader, Councillor Ken Thornber, said: "It's very exciting to see the work at Coldeast.

"I know that older people in the area will greatly welcome these beds in terms of being offered more security and choice and in meeting their care needs as they grow older and less able to care for themselves.

"This project is an excellent example of partnership working between ourselves and our health colleagues and I look forward to the beds being ready for use early next year."

Recruitment of staff for the home is already under way, with nurses, carers and domestic and catering staff being sought.

Other planned homes include Fleming House in Eastleigh, Bickerley Green in Ringwood and Tatchbury Mount in Calmore.