The Peter Gidney Neurological Centre in Darenth marked the addition of a new 10-room wing with a visit by the Mayor and Mayoress of Dartford.

Operated by Four Seasons Heath Care, the purpose-built centre cares for adults with brain injury and neurological conditions including multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, spinal injury, Huntington’s disease and acquired brain injury.

The new expansion of the specialist facility takes the bed count to 35 in total.

During the event, the visitors took part in a tour of the facility, meeting residents and learning more about the care and rehabilitation the service offers.

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They also spoke to residents and their families at the adjacent Beechcare home, which provides residential, nursing and specialist residential care.

Speaking at the event, Peter Gidney Neurological Centre manager, Lewis Chester said: "We pride ourselves on providing long-term person-centred care and support to people with neurological conditions and brain injury from the local area as well as further afield.

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Mayoress of Dartford greets residents "This important expansion will allow us to offer a home to more individuals who are in need of dedicated care and rehabilitation.”

Grant Clarke, who has been a patient at the Peter Gidney Centre for the past six months, made a short speech and thanked the care team for "making him feel human again."

Grant’s mother, Maureen Clarke, said: "We have found our haven. I'm a retired nurse and I can't praise enough the way all the carers and staff go about their job. The standards are very high.

"As a relative I feel supported too. All the residents here are treated as individuals and encouraged to be individuals. We're very lucky."

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Mayor of Dartford, Cllr David Mote also offered up a few words, saying: "We thought we knew Dartford well, but as mayor and mayoress we are constantly discovering new and very special places in our local area and the Peter Gidney Neurological Centre clearly falls into that category.

"It was a pleasure to visit the centre today, to meet residents and hear in their own words how the excellent facilities and high standards of care are helping them to live life as fully as possible.

"We wish everyone at the centre well and congratulate all involved on the expansion of this facility.”