A Northern Ireland-owned healthcare company is to create 140 jobs in a new £8.4 million (€9.9 million) specialist facility on the outskirts of Belfast.

Maryland Healthcare is developing an 80-bed centre on a 5½-acre site off the Knockbracken Road in the Castlereagh Hills.

The centre, which will open next June, will care for vulnerable adults living with dementia, a learning disability, or physical disability.

Audrey Lockhead, chairwoman of Maryland Healthcare, said the healthcare project is being developed with the help of Ulster Bank and will provide essential services required in the Belfast area.

Nursing care

“Services will include sub-acute intermediate care, complex nursing care, enhanced palliative, learning disability, and physical disability care.

“It will be one of the largest new-build health facilities in Northern Ireland in recent years,” she said.

Maryland Healthcare said it intends to create a range of both full-time and part-time roles, with a multi-disciplinary team; including senior nursing, care providers, administrative, kitchen and domestic staff.