FINISHING touches are being put to Hampshire County Council's first nursing home in Fareham ahead of its opening next month.

Hawthorne Court, built on the former Coldeast Hospital site, is the first of ten homes to be opened in a partnership between the county council and the NHS.

The partnership aims to provide 500 nursing home beds across the county.

Now workers are adding homely touches there to ensure a warm welcome to new residents when they move in at the end of February.

The 80-bed home, which cost more than £6m, is due to open its doors tomorrow in a sneak preview for councillors, NHS partners and council staff before it is up and running.

With two storeys encompassing bedrooms with en suite facilities, an occupational therapy room, medical room, visitor room, offices and kitchen and laundry it is an impressive building.

Hawthorne Court is one of the first in the country to be built by a local authority and the county council is also the first to directly employ nurses in social care.

The home will be headed by experienced nursing manager Vicky Biggs, 40, who will preside over 100 carers, kitchen, laundry and domestic staff.

A great deal of thought has gone into catering for the elderly residents.

Strong, vibrant colours have been used to decorate walls and there are plenty of homely finishing touches such as comfortable furniture, fireplaces and artwork.

With the latest technology, such as wrist-worn monitors that can alert staff to emergencies and gauge residents' body temperature and bodily functions, residents will feel they are really being looked after.

County council leader Ken Thornber said: "I am pleased to see the doors about to open at Hawthorne Court.

"We have striven to provide a warm and welcoming home.

"I know that, in the capable hands of our staff, residents will be offered

the very best in nursing care.

"They will also be benefiting from the latest technology to support that care."