DHU Healthcare is proud to be part of a partnership of urgent healthcare providers that between them cover almost two thirds of the UK’s population – delivering services for, and in support of the NHS.
Like all the social enterprise member organisations that make-up UHUK, DHU follows community interest principles – re-investing any surplus finances it makes into patient services, local communities, and improving workplaces for its people.
Chief Executive of DHU, Stephen Bateman says, “Every day DHU delivers compassionate, high-quality healthcare services to a geography of more than ten million people across the Midlands. We are the largest NHS 111 provider in the UK, responding to around one in every four calls the service receives. We also care for patients in emergency departments, urgent treatment centres, out of hours primary care centres, in their own homes and in GP surgeries.
“We’re proud to be part of the UHUK collaboration. Social enterprises don’t always get the same recognition as other areas of the healthcare system, but through UHUK we are helping to raise awareness of what we do and lead best practice – helping our NHS to meet the demands it faces. And as a community interest company we also have citizenship at the heart of what we do – supporting good causes, offering local employment and procurement opportunities, and lessening environmental impact.”
UHUK’s members treat millions of patients who would otherwise call an ambulance, go to A&E, or visit their GP. Last year (April 22-March 23) DHU’s team of more than 3,500 health advisors, doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals, helped the NHS to avoid more than 200,000 ambulance journeys and 50,000 A&E attendances.
“Through the services we provide we are committed to making sure that patients get the right care in the right place,” continues Stephen. “The work we do as a collective keeps people well, independent and at home, allowing the NHS to focus on those with the most critical health needs who really need to be in hospital.”