Independent Health and Care update

Thought leadership on the health and social care sector

Care operators - is your lender ready, steady to lend?

As the usual summer recess comes to an end, professionals across various industries are returning to work, feeling refreshed and energised and with a renewed sense of purpose.

Monica Macheng (Head of Corporate Healthcare), asks Derek Breingan (Head of Health and Social Care, Virgin Money), and Dan Hewitt and Stephen Wilson (Healthcare Directors, Cynergy Bank) how care home operators can ensure they are engaging with the right sector lenders to support with their funding needs. Read more 

Virtually reducing claims in health and social care

The dawn of artificial intelligence is upon us. Innovation is presently ‘the’ buzz word, with some organisations prepared to spend millions to be the first to harness its benefits.

Legal Director Sion Davies examines the opportunities and insights and how things might move forward in the independent health sector. Read more

Harnessing value-based healthcare to address challenges in global healthcare

Value-based healthcare is capable of being implemented in both public and privately financed systems. While the concept may be optimally implemented across full cycles of care to achieve the benefits of scale, its principles can also be applied on a smaller scale in respect of individual products and services.

Robert McGough and Gemma Badger from our Health Commercial team explore the topic in more detail, ahead of their attendance and speaking at this year’s ICHOM conference. Read more

Social Care

Acquiring new care home premises - three tips for a smooth purchase from real estate lawyers

Usually, the largest and most expensive asset (in terms of upfront cost) that will be acquired when purchasing a new care home, is the property out of which the home is operating. It is important therefore to go into the acquisition process with a good understanding of the steps required from a real estate perspective and the possible issues that might be identified.

Alexandra Maleedy of our Health Real Estate team considers some of our top tips for a smooth care home acquisition process. Read more.

Care home providers - key themes arising from recent coroner’s inquests

The issue of falls risks for social care organisations, is a key theme arising out of recent coroner’s Inquests (May-July 2023). Coroners have recently issued Prevention of Future Deaths (PFD) reports in respect of two separate cases involving falls risks in care homes.

Health and social care organisations will be familiar with the issues that arise in respect of falls risks. It is helpful to be aware of the issues of concern to coroners, as this may inform an organisation’s own response and assist in dealing with this in advance of any forthcoming inquests which raise similar issues. Read more

Regulatory Updates

Licensing of non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England - government consultation now published

On Saturday 2 September 2023, the much-anticipated government consultation into a new licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures was launched. In what has been described as ‘the biggest shake up in a generation’ by the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP), the proposed new licensing scheme will make it an offence for anybody to carry out non-surgical cosmetic treatments without a practitioner and a premises licence in England. Senior Associate, Alaw Krishan-Gray, provides an overview of the latest position. Read more

Employment Updates

Was dismissal for use of the ‘N-word’ in race awareness training unfair and discriminatory?

Training in equality, diversity and inclusion can contribute towards showing that the employer has taken ‘reasonable’ steps to prevent discrimination, harassment and victimisation. Due to its sensitive nature, such training must be handled carefully, and participants must be given clear boundaries for acceptable and unacceptable conduct. An employment tribunal has recently considered whether an employee was unfairly dismissed and subjected to discrimination arising from disability when he was dismissed for gross misconduct after he used the ‘N-word’ in a race awareness training session.

Emma Ahmed of our Employment team delves into the tribunal. Read more

Professional Care Workers’ Week: Recognising the essential role, rights, and future of care workers…

As we mark Professional Care Workers’ Week 2023, it is an opportune time to celebrate care workers who are the backbone of our social care system and to review the rights which protect them. These individuals, numbering 1.54 million, play an indispensable role in our communities and the demand for their services is only growing.

This article recaps on the rights of care workers and considers the future of this sector, including cross-skilling and collaborative efforts. Read more

Hill Dickinson advises Johnson Service Group on €31.5m Irish acquisition

We advised workwear and hospitality industry textile business Johnson Service Group on the acquisition of a leading Irish linen supplier, Celtic Linen, in a deal worth €31.5 million.

Runcorn headquartered Johnson Service Group aims to use the acquisition of Celtic Linen to expand its range and scale of services, including further diversification of its customer base into the healthcare sector. Read more

Hill Dickinson advises wellness disruptor Until as Dragons’ Den star Steven Bartlett joins board as part of new investment round

We advised London wellness disruptor Until on a recent investment round that will help drive further expansion.

The deal sees entrepreneur and star of Dragon’s Den Steven Bartlett not only invest as part of the wider investment round but give his personal backing to the business by joining the board of Until in an executive role as marketing co-founder to help shape the brand and support its expansion into the US. Read more

Hill Dickinson advises Pitalia Capital on £12 million online pharmacy investment

We advised Pitalia Capital on a £12 million cash injection into online pharmacy Chemist4U.

Chemist4U and bespoke weight management clinic myBMI form part of JCCO Healthcare with the backing set to “turbocharge” the businesses’ growth, according to chief executive James O’Loan. Chemist4U handles 190,000 orders a month and is expected to hit £29 million turnover in the 12 months to the end of September, with MyBMI on track to hit £10 million turnover in 2023/24. Read more

Hill Dickinson advises PAM Group on Irish wellbeing company acquisition

We advised the Warrington-based occupational health and wellbeing specialist PAM Group on the strategic acquisition of an Irish wellbeing business for an undisclosed sum.

In the LDC-backed firm’s third acquisition of 2023, PAM Group has bought Corporate Health Ireland (CHI), a 100-strong wellbeing business that will allow it to expand its geographical footprint and support its target of reaching £80 million in turnover in the next few years; up from £45 million in 2022. Read more

Non-surgical cosmetic procedures - what’s happening in the Government’s consultation?

On Saturday 2 September 2023, the much-anticipated government consultation into a new licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures was launched and can be found here. In what has been described as ‘the biggest shake up in a generation’ by the JCCP,  the proposed new licensing scheme will make it an offence for anybody to carry out non-surgical cosmetic treatments without a practitioner and a premises licence in England. Senior Associate, Alaw Krishan-Gray, provides an overview of the latest position. Read more

LPS/DOLs video resources

At the beginning of April 2023, the Department of Health and Social Care announced that the Liberty Protection Safeguards (also known as LPS) will now not be introduced this side of a general election, which is anticipated to be in Autumn 2024.

In this session legal director Joanna Crichton considers the most important questions surrounding the current Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards scheme, the main issues the LPS was designed to resolve and the implications for care providers on the LPS not going ahead. Read more

Death in prison custody inquests video resources

In these sessions Legal Director Elizabeth Wallace unpacks the full proceedings of an inquest following a death in prison custody. From detailing the state’s responsibility and accountability for the welfare of detainees, to how and by whom the investigative report is carried out. Each video focuses on a specific stage of the inquest responding to frequently asked questions and common themes. Read more

Professional healthcare regulation webinar

Our inaugural Professional Healthcare Regulation webinar was held on 20 September 2023, where we covered topics such as the Professional Standards Authority and recent updates on healthcare regulatory case law and latest developments in practice. Ros Foster, Partner and David Reddington, Legal Director gave their insight into the key considerations of Professional Healthcare Regulation at this webinar.

We also considered how medical indemnity providers can best support registrants in fitness to practise proceedings and on concluding matters in a cost effective manner. Read more