Following the recent secondary buyout of Direct Healthcare Group by European healthcare specialist investor ArchiMed, the company has made its first acquisition outside of the UK with the completion of Swedish rehabilitation aids specialist GATE Rehab Development AB.
GATE Rehab Development AB, based in Reftele, Sweden, has extensive experience in the design and manufacture of rehabilitation aids, with their Bure™ stand tall walkers and EASY™ hygiene chairs well established within the Swedish healthcare market.
The strategic acquisition provides Direct Healthcare Group with their first expansion into Europe and provides a launchpad for bringing their award-winning Intelligent Pressure Care Management, large range of pressure reducing and wheelchair cushions, and Specialist Seating solutions to the Swedish and further Scandinavian markets.
Within the UK, Direct Healthcare Group will now offer a range of safe patient moving & handling solutions from GATE, significantly expanding its current portfolio. The new range will include stand tall walkers, sit-to-stand raising aids, patient transfer platforms and hygiene chairs; all of which offer innovative, clinically beneficial designs and high-quality manufacturing.
Graham Ewart, CEO at Direct Healthcare Group, said: “The acquisition of GATE represents our first strategic step in delivering our innovative, clinically proven, market-leading pressure care management and specialist seating portfolios into the Swedish and wider European markets. However, more so, the acquisition further enhances Direct Healthcare Group’s offering and belief in providing solutions that enable the healthcare challenges associated with reduced patient movement to be managed and resolved to support care providers in the delivery of better health outcomes.”
“For over a decade, Direct Healthcare Group have been helping to achieve clinical outcomes and economic efficiencies within the bed and at the bedside. With the addition of GATE’s solutions, we can now also help to encourage safe, earlier mobilisation of patients to enhance recovery.”
In December 2019, ArchiMed, a leading European investor in medical industries and care services, bought out Direct Healthcare Group, providing €150million of investment to continue to target strategic acquisitions. The acquisitions will have a particular focus on expanding Direct Healthcare Group’s European presence, whilst simultaneously adding clinically effective products that further the company philosophy of advancing movement and health.