Care UK in the running for two prestigious Health Investor awards

Company news

Mar 05, 2018

Care UK has been named as a finalist in two separate categories of the Health Investor Awards 2018.

Care UK’s Health Care and Residential Care Services businesses have both been shortlisted in the awards, which are run by the leading national magazine.

Care UK is one of four finalists for Healthcare Provider of the Year, where it is being recognised for the excellent standards of care provided at its nine NHS treatment centres across England, its high levels of patient satisfaction, and the innovative ways in which it works with its local NHS trusts.

Care UK’s Health Care division is the largest independent sector provider of NHS services in the country, delivering more than 18 million patient interactions every year, from Rochdale to Portsmouth and from Plymouth to Kent.

Over a 12-month period, Care UK spent £4 million in improving the services and facilities for patients at its centres. A £2 million investment at Peninsula NHS Treatment Centre saw a third operating theatre and new endoscopy suite developed, while a further £1.5 million has been spent on improving diagnostics at two other centres.

A new recovery suite, consulting rooms and increased treatment areas, together with investment in mobile clinics, have further supported patients and increased capacity.

The Care UK Health Care submission cites high ratings by the Care Quality Commission (including three ‘outstanding’ overall ratings), an average score of 99 per cent in the national Friends and Family Test (which measures how a patient would recommend a service), and performance above the national average in Patient Led Assessments of the Care Environment (PLACE) surveys.

Its recent innovations include the enhanced recovery pathway project, to help orthopaedic patients rehabilitate as quickly and safely as possible, and Pocket Physio, a mobile app that provides physiotherapy support and advice to patients. Throughout all of its services, Care UK Health Care maintains a strong focus on patient choice and helping to cut waiting times for treatment.

Andy Lunt, managing director of the shortlisted Care UK Health Care division, said: “We are delighted to have reached the final of the Health Investor Awards 2018. My congratulations go to everyone across the team for this achievement, which is entirely down to their commitment, innovation and excellent expertise.”

In a separate category of the same awards, Care UK’s Residential Care Services division is among the finalists for a Provider of the Year award.

The shortlisting by Health Investor magazine recognises the recent achievements of Care UK – including opening 31 homes in the last five years with a further 26 homes due to open in the next three years. Currently Care UK provides care and support for almost 7,500 people.

The shortlisting also recognises Care UK’s sustained focus on quality standards. Out of the top five care providers in England and Scotland (measured by the number of places in all homes), it currently enjoys the highest Care Quality Commission/Care Inspectorate ratings for its residential services for older people.

Two Care UK homes are rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC and a further eight have had their outstanding efforts recognised against at least one of the regulator’s key themes.

Andrew Knight, managing director of Residential Care Services, said: “This is wonderful recognition for our hardworking teams, and their dedication to driving excellence for residents and their families.

“By listening to our residents and their families, we have come to understand what they need and focus on delivering it. That, plus our focus on helping our colleagues to develop their skills, is what has enabled us to secure the highest quality ratings of any of the top five largest care home providers.

“We’re also proud of our innovative public sector partnerships and our investment in new homes is helping to meet society’s growing need for high quality residential care. I think these are all factors in our shortlisting for this prestigious award.”

Care UK will find out if it is a winner at the Health Investor Awards 2018 ceremony in London on 13 June. This is the third time that Care UK has been shortlisted for this category in recent years. In 2017, Care UK won the category for Best Public and Private Partnership for its work with Suffolk County Council. Care UK’s Health Care division has also been shortlisted this year in the same awards for its treatment centres.