Britain’s outsourcers target healthcare in new growth push
By Li-mei Hoang LONDON (Reuters) – Sitting on a plush sofa in a cheery room in a modern apartment block set in the leafy surroundings of a former British military academy, 72-year-old Gloria Lafferty is looking forward to a traditional British meal of fish and chips with her family. The scene is far removed from the care home horror stories that have played out in the British media over recent years, for Colebrook House is an assisted-living scheme that its operator holds up as an example of what the private sector can contribute to a national health service creaking under the strain of an ageing population and limited funds. "It's different here, lots of smashing carers," Lafferty said of the scheme that support services company Mears Group runs on behalf of local government and a housing association. The provision of care for those who can no longer look after themselves but do not need hospital treatment is one of the biggest problems facing Britain's state-funded National Health Service (NHS).
