KentOnline has had an exclusive tour around the newly opened £18 million private mental health hospital in Maidstone.

The 65-bed facility for adults is run by Cygnet Health Care at the Kent Medical Campus near Junction 7 of the M20.

Work began on the treatment centre at Gidds Pond Way, next to the £90m private KIMS Hospital, last January and the Mayor of Maidstone, David Naghi, was on hand to cut the ribbon at its official launch last week.

However, patients will not be arriving until after the Care Quality Commission issues an official registration certificate in around a fortnight’s time.

It is the second psychiatric hospital the company has opened in Kent, after launching in Godden Green near Sevenoaks more than 20 years ago.

Rehabilitation has been shown to be more successful if patients are supported by loved ones who are near to where they live.

The hospital is a low-secure unit designed to improve mental health within a therapeutic environment.

The facility will treat patients detained under the Mental Health Act who are preparing to re-enter the community.

The corridors are adorned with scenic pictures taken from around Kent, while the rooms patients will use are spacious with plenty of scope for group activities.

There is a communal gym, a kitchen and area for study for those who choose to pursue academic qualifications while staying at the facility.

The hospital launched a recruitment drive for 150 staff members including nurses, clinicians and care workers this summer.

Nicky McLeod, chief operating officer for Cygnet Secure Services, said: “We’re delighted to have opened a hospital in Maidstone.

"Mental health services are at a critical position, government policy is focused on having in-patients treated as close to home as possible.

"Cygnet is working with the government and the NHS to identify regional shortfalls, or ‘empty pockets’, where specialist treatment does not exist in certain areas of the country.

“In collaboration with the NHS, we then offer to provide these specialist mental health services to fill the gaps.

"All those patients will be referred from and funded by the NHS.

“We’ll measure success by not just looking at how patients score on traditional psychological tests, but by helping them feel better and do more for themselves.

"The best outcome is to get people home where they belong."