Healthcare Matters, currently based in Pentre Broughton, has recently doubled its turnover to £4.6m and grown its workforce to 53, and will move into its new HQ at Llay Industrial Estate at the end of the month.
The award-winning business offers a range of healthcare equipment and servicing for the NHS, the private care sector and for the home.
Managing director Adam Spiby said: “Our growth has always been organic. We didn’t have a marketing person until 18 months ago. It all boils down to treating people the way we want to be treated, providing the best service and the best solutions for living, that’s what our incredible workforce does.
“This North East Wales community means a lot to us – we champion local, we support local charities, and 95% of our staff come from the area. As we move to our new premises down the road, an exciting new chapter begins. We’ve got big plans to expand our services and help more people across Wales.”
The business began when Phil Spiby – Adam’s father, and founder – suffered a serious heart attack aged 53, which led to an emergency life-saving operation. This traumatic experience inspired Phil to quit a highly stressed role as a company director and follow his dream of launching his own business.
The original business formed part of a franchise offering specialist beds and mattresses to the healthcare space. Phil soon discovered a gap in the market, to supply a wider range of medical care equipment that allow carers and healthcare providers to deliver high quality care in the home, in hospitals and in private care settings.
In 2008, it became one of the 50 fastest growing businesses in Wales. Over the years the business has developed partnerships with local health boards, local authorities and the private care sector. Today, it supplies a wide range of equipment from hoists for the home to specialist chairs, beds, ramps, baths and more, as well as a 24 hours a day emergency servicing service to ensure that all equipment is of the highest standard, so that every patient feels empowered and as comfortable as possible as they live their daily lives.
With the Government’s strategy focused on keeping patients at home for longer, and with hospitals overcrowded, Healthcare Matters has seen a huge demand to train NHS staff and community healthcare providers outside of the hospital settings.
Jack Cusack, head of sales at Healthcare Matters said: “We’ve built a new space in our headquarters to offer professional training for OTs, district nurses and carers. It’s vital that healthcare providers feel confident using equipment to ensure a comfortable and dignified service for patients.
“A key part of this training is a hands-on demonstration, giving professionals the opportunity to see, use and fully understand the equipment in a realistic setting. We’ve already trialled these sessions and the feedback has been fantastic, with attendees highlighting increased confidence and improved understanding.”
Jack added: “We’re developing a new, ground-breaking digital resource designed to improve the quality of life for patients who live alone, are vulnerable, or face additional medical challenges. It’s in development now and we can’t wait to reveal more about this very soon.”
As well as expanding its services, Healthcare Matters will use its new headquarters to expand its Lean expertise. Lean methodology is all about reducing waste and maximising capacity and productivity. Healthcare Matters is already leading the way when it comes to lean methodology in Wales.
Operations manager Geraint Edwards explains: “We’re proud to be one of the Lean leaders in Wales. For us, Lean is all about removing the struggle from our team’s day-to-day work – identifying what slows people down and fixing it. It has helped us to grow by improving processes and reducing the time it takes to complete tasks.”
Adam added: “We’re proud to be a Welsh business that’s creating a happy and positive workplace for our staff, whilst also making a big difference to the lives of our incredible, and often undervalued, carers and medical teams in Wales.
“Above all, we’re here to ensure the best quality of life for those individuals who rely on our equipment and services to live each day in the best way possible. We’re excited about the future.”