Whitebirch Lodge
Whitebirch Lodge is a residential care home in Herne Bay, Kent (CT6 5SE). It holds a CQC rating of Good.
About Whitebirch Lodge
Whitebirch Lodge is a residential care home in Herne Bay, Kent. We are home to older people, both for the long term and for shorter respite stays when a family carer needs a break. We keep it simple. Meals worth finishing, a warm room, help that comes, and an afternoon that is yours to waste if you like. Being at the coast is genuinely useful. A walk along the front, weather permitting, or simply sitting somewhere with a view and some fresh air, does more for most people than anything we could organise indoors. What we do take real trouble over is knowing people. Their working life, their family, which chair is theirs, how they take their tea. Those details are how somebody remains a person here rather than becoming a resident, and none can be learned from paperwork. We review each person's care with them regularly rather than annually out of habit, and we change the plan when it has stopped fitting. The Care Quality Commission rates us good overall. Families are welcome to arrive unannounced and see us on an ordinary day, which is the only visit that tells you anything.
Care provided at Whitebirch Lodge
- Older person care
- Respite care
- Last CQC inspection: 4 December 2019
Read the full inspection report on the CQC website.
How Whitebirch Lodge compares in Canterbury
Measured against the 54 care homes for older people registered in Canterbury. The dark dot is this home.
- Size
- 19 places. Smaller than 38 of the 54 homes. The local average is 36 places.
- CQC rating
- Good. 34 of the 54 homes (63%) are rated Good or Outstanding. Across Kent the figure is 68%.
- Latest report
- 4 December 2019. 43 of the 54 homes have published a newer inspection report since.
- Registered
- December 2010. One of the longer established homes. 47 of the 54 registered more recently.
- Food hygiene
- 5 out of 5. The top rating, shared by 46 of the 50 homes that have one.
Powered by Orrery Intelligence. Data: CQC register and Food Standards Agency ratings. Counts cover registered care homes for older people in Canterbury.
The local picture: Canterbury
What the numbers say about care for older people in Canterbury, in Kent.
What care costs in Kent, per week
| Type of care | What the council pays | What self-funders are typically asked |
|---|---|---|
| Residential care | £1,187 | £1,409 to £1,600 (Middle half of prices from 22 Kent homes. Median £1,500.) |
| Nursing care | £1,378 | £1,550 to £1,865 (Middle half of prices from 11 Kent homes. Median £1,605.) |
| Residential dementia care | Not published separately | £1,500 to £1,619 (Middle half of prices from 18 Kent homes. Median £1,500.) |
| Nursing dementia care | Not published separately | £1,975 to £2,226 (South East figure, because too few Kent homes publish this price. 37 homes. Median £2,050.) |
Published prices are often starting prices, and come from homes that publish fees, so treat them as a guide. Ask the home for its own price.
- People aged 75 and over: 19,800. Rising to 23,300 by 2035, up 17%
- People aged 85 and over: 5,300. Rising to 8,200 by 2035, up 54%
- Living with dementia, aged 65 and over (estimate): 2,600. Rising to 3,300 by 2035, up 28%
- Dementia diagnosis rate: 73%. The NHS ambition is 67%. Kent as a whole is 62%.
- Care home beds per 1,000 people aged 75+: 91. Kent average is 77.
- Care homes, last 12 months: 1 opened, 2 closed. 5 changed owner, covering 153 beds.
- Care home beds filled across Kent: 88%. The 12 month average is 88%.
- Who pays, across Kent (estimate): 35% council, 43% self. The rest is NHS funded or other.
Powered by Orrery Intelligence. Market model built 22 October 2026 (ONS 2022 based population projections, dementia estimates, CQC register), published care home prices, council planning records.
Good to know about Whitebirch Lodge
Facts from public registers, and what is close by.
- Registered with CQC
- 13 December 2010, so 15 years.
- Food hygiene rating
- 5 out of 5. Very good. Last inspected by the local council on 30 September 2026.
- Run by
- Krystlegate Limited, which runs this service only.
Sources: CQC register, Food Standards Agency, OpenStreetMap contributors. Distances are in a straight line from the postcode, not walking or driving routes.
Local services near Whitebirch Lodge
The closest places to this home, measured in a straight line from its postcode. They are the nearest, not necessarily the ones the home uses. Ask the home which GP, dentist and pharmacy its residents are registered with.
Nearest 24 hour A&E
- Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital, Margate, 11.1 miles away
It is about 11.1 miles in a straight line from the postcode. The drive is usually longer. In an emergency call 999; the ambulance may take you elsewhere.
Nearest GP practices
- Park Surgery, 0.4 miles away
- The Heron Medical Practice, 0.6 miles away
- Sturry Surgery, 4.3 miles away
Nearest dentists
- Mydentist, 0.1 miles away (NHS.uk details)
- Herne Bay Dental Surgery, 0.4 miles away (NHS.uk details)
- Sea Street Dental Practice, 0.8 miles away (NHS.uk details)
Nearest pharmacies
- Boots, 0.4 miles away
- Park Pharmacy, 0.4 miles away
- Borno Chemists, 0.6 miles away
Nearest railway stations
- Herne Bay Station, 0.7 miles away
- Chestfield & Swalecliffe Station, 2.9 miles away
- Whitstable Station, 4.3 miles away
Around Whitebirch Lodge
- H: Whitebirch Lodge
- A: 24 hour A&E
- G: GP practice
- D: Dentist
- P: Pharmacy
- S: Railway station
Straight line distances, not routes. Places very close to the home are spread out slightly so they can be told apart.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Practice and pharmacy details from the NHS England Organisation Data Service. A&E sites from NHS England A&E data and the Organisation Data Service. Railway stations from the Department for Transport NaPTAN dataset. Distances are straight line and approximate.
Common questions about Whitebirch Lodge
Where is Whitebirch Lodge located?
Whitebirch Lodge is a residential care home in Herne Bay, Kent, CT6 5SE. You can view its exact location and get directions from the map on this page.
What type of care does Whitebirch Lodge provide?
Whitebirch Lodge is registered to provide residential personal care, with support that includes Older person care, Respite care. The full list of services is shown on this page.
What is Whitebirch Lodge's CQC rating?
Whitebirch Lodge is registered with and inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Its most recent overall rating is Good following its last inspection on 4 December 2019. You can read the full CQC report from the link on this page.
Does Whitebirch Lodge offer respite or short-term care?
Yes. Whitebirch Lodge offers respite and short-term care. Availability changes regularly, so it is best to enquire directly.
Questions families ask about Whitebirch Lodge
Can Mum or Dad stay here if their dementia gets worse?
No. Whitebirch Lodge is not listed for dementia care on the CQC register. If dementia is likely, choose a home that is, so a second move is not needed later.
Is there a nurse on site if health needs change?
No. Whitebirch Lodge is a residential care home without on-site nursing. District nurses and GPs visit, but someone who needs daily nursing may have to move to a nursing home.
Can they try a short stay before deciding?
Yes. Yes. Whitebirch Lodge offers respite and short stays, which is a good way to see whether the home is the right fit.
Will they support end of life care, so there is no move at the hardest time?
Ask the home. End of life care is not listed on the register. Ask the manager whether residents can remain in the home with hospice or district nurse support.
Can she bring her cat or dog?
Ask the home. The home has not told us its pet policy yet. Ask directly; some homes allow small pets in residents' rooms or welcome visiting dogs.
Can a couple stay together?
Ask the home. We do not know whether the home has rooms for couples. Ask about shared or adjoining rooms if this matters.
Will the council help pay, or is it self funded only?
Ask the home. The home has not told us which funding it accepts. Most homes take both council funded and self funded residents; ask about council rates and any top up.
Do they take younger adults as well as older people?
No. Whitebirch Lodge is registered for older people. Younger adults are not listed.
Can I visit before deciding, and are there visiting hours?
Ask the home. Every home should welcome a visit. Call to arrange one, ideally at a mealtime or during an activity, and ask about visiting hours for family.
Typical weekly fees in the South East
Whitebirch Lodge has not published its fees yet. These are typical weekly fees for the South East, so you know roughly what to expect before you call.
- Residential care: £1,100 to £1,450 per week per person, typical range
Indicative figures for the South East, not a quote from Whitebirch Lodge. Actual fees depend on the room, the level of care and how it is funded.
Explore more
More care homes in Herne Bay
- Broomfield Lodge — CQC Good
- H M T Care - 48 Albany Drive — CQC Good
- Harbour Care Home — CQC Good
- High Pines Residential Home — CQC Good
- Kimberley Residential Home — CQC Good
- Miramar Care Home — CQC Good
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