Mobility services provider sold following owner’s retirement
A Wirral firm employing more than 300 staff has been acquired, for an undisclosed sum.
Southampton-based Millbrook Healthcare, a provider of community equipment and mobility-related services, has completed the takeover of Ross Care.
Millbrook said this will consolidate its position within the medical services industry.
Established in 1949, Ross Care is a major provider of wheelchair services and mobility equipment on behalf of NHS and local authorities.
In addition to its community equipment service, Ross Care is the largest provider of wheelchair repair contracts in the UK.
Based in Wallasey, Ross Care has 18 service centres including four wheelchair clinical assessment centres across the North and North West of England.
Initiated by the retirement of Michael Turner, Ross Care’s chairman and majority shareholder, Millbrook says this partnership is highly complementary and strategically important to both companies.
It delivers a considerable geographical extension to each business and increases the range of services offered to commissioners and service users.
The enlarged business continues to be based in Southampton, has a total of 45 service centres nationwide and 1,200 colleagues supporting the delivery of more than 70 contracts.
Ross Care’s managing director, James Parramore, will continue to lead the Ross Care business and will join the executive leadership team of the enlarged group company.
Phillip Campling, Millbrook’s chief executive, said: “We are delighted to welcome Ross Care to our group – our shared expertise and commitment to our customers and communities makes this an obvious and complementary partnership.
“The health and social care sectors are undergoing considerable change – this partnership will enable us to prepare for this, extend our range of services and, most importantly, help us to improve our customers’ and service users’ experience.”
Michael Turner said: “Ross Care has a fantastic heritage and I am extremely proud of all that we have achieved to this point.
“I know that the company has the capability to achieve much more, but this is the natural point for me to pass the company to new, trusted custodians who can deliver on its future potential.
“In Millbrook, Ross Care has a perfect partner, and together the companies should achieve great things.”
Millbrook Healthcare was established in 1995 and provides community equipment, wheelchairs, assistive technology and home improvement agency services in the UK. Its integrated community equipment service provides assisted living products and services, such as walking frames, hoists and pressure care equipment, allowing service users to remain at home rather than in care environments.
The company delivers more than 800,000 items each year and has 27 service centres across the UK.
Ross Care was advised by Dow Schofield Watts (corporate finance), DWF Group (legal) and Fairhurst (tax). Millbrook was advised by PwC (financial and tax), Gowling WLG (legal), CIL Consultants (commercial), Willis Towers Watson (insurance) and Equator (IT).
