United Care design, develop and manufacture its patient handling solutions from its state-of-the-art facility in Groningen, Netherlands.


Pressure care manufacturer Direct Healthcare Group has completed the acquisition of the Dutch patient handling solutions manufacturer United Care BV.

United Care BV, based in Groningen, Netherlands, has over 25 years of experience in the development and manufacturing of patient handling solutions that deliver safe, reliable and natural transfers for patients, and efficiencies and reduction of injuries for care givers.

The acquisition of United Care adds to Direct Healthcare Group’s safe moving and handling portfolio, with a combined focus on promoting movement and independence to improve quality of living for the patient.

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Further, customers of both United Care and Direct Healthcare Group (DHG) will now have access to a greater range of solutions that enable movement and prevent the development of avoidable harms, including the recent introduction of Direct Healthcare Group’s award-winning pressure ulcer prevention portfolio to the Dutch market.

The innovative patient transfer solutions that have been developed by United Care, including mobile hoists, ceiling hoists, and sit-to-stand aids, will further enhance customer choice and the quality-of-care delivery for patients and caregivers across all of the geographies that Direct Healthcare Group serves.

Graham Ewart, CEO of Direct Healthcare Group, said: “At Direct Healthcare Group, we are continually looking at ways in which we can impact quality of life for users who require transfer solutions, and as such we are excited by the opportunity that continued investment and combined expertise with United Care can bring for our caregivers and those they provide care for.”

Jan Stevenson, Managing Director of United Care, said: “United Care have developed a high level of expertise and service quality for our customer over 25 years in the industry. We’re pleased that Direct Healthcare Group share the same vision and values as us and are committed to ensuring that we continue to deliver to the highest level of quality and innovation that our customers have come to expect.

“Both United Care’s and Direct Healthcare Group’s combined expertise complement each other, and we’re looking forward to continued investment and development under Direct Healthcare Group.”

The acquisition of United Care BV is the latest in a strong period of expansion and growth for Direct Healthcare Group within the last 18 months, and follows on from the acquisition of Swedish-based GATE Rehav Development AB., Nordic and Dutch-based Handicare’s Patient Handling Europe division, Finland-headquartered Carital Group Oy, and UK-based Talley Group Ltd.

Founded in 2009, DHG has a direct presence in five European countries and distributes products to a further 35 across Asia, North America and Australasia. It now holds 15 per cent market share in Europe for its sector across pressure ulcer prevention and patient handling. Exports soared to an annualised £27.6 million in the year to December.

The Group, which employs over 500 people, has claimed that it is on course for an £89 million turnover in 2021 following a surge of growth for the healthcare sector.

In 2018, ceiling hoist brand OpeMed became a division of United Care. United Care then sold OpeMed to patient handling manufactuer and supplier, Astor Bannerman, at the end of 2020.

In December 2019, ArchiMed, a leading private equity firm specialised in the healthcare industries, bought out Direct Healthcare Group, providing a significant capital commitment to continue to target strategic acquisitions.

With significant patient handling knowledge, United Care continue to design, develop and manufacture innovative solutions from its state-of-the-art facility in Groningen, Netherlands.

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