Nursing Homes

 

Bankruptcies, closures, and scandals: the bleak state of European nursing homes

Across Europe, nursing homes are in crisis. Between scandals in France, insolvencies in Germany, the threat of regulation in Spain, and fair fee woes in the UK, HBI hears that the nursing home sector is the least attractive healthcare services sector for investors. Are things really that bad - and is the threat of mass bankruptcies real?

HC-One acquires luxury care home group

Last week, large UK nursing home operator HC-One announced its acquisition of Ideal Carehomes. An additional 36 homes in England will be added to the provider's growing portfolio with another facility expected to open up in Cheltenham next September.

Belgian crackdown after Orpea’s French folly

Outside France, nursing home group Orpea has largely escaped scrutiny in the countries it operates in following its well publicised difficulties, except in its French-speaking neighbour - Belgium. HBI catches up with two operators in the region to hear what the knock-on reputational impact has been like for Belgian businesses.

Record fines are putting care homes at risk

With UK for-profit group Cygnet Health Care being fined £1.5m last month following the death of an inpatient at Ealing Hospital in 2019 - the largest ever penalty imposed on a mental health provider - we speak to four European experts to consider how punitive fines from regulators are impacting providers’ bottom line.

Controversial care cuts in the Netherlands on hold following fall of government

Elderly care in the Netherlands has been stuck in a state of limbo for a while now. Political upheaval over the summer and the collapse of a four-party coalition government after 18 months in power has only made the future of care - and the implementation of planned budget cuts - harder to predict. HBI chats to a consultant to find out more.

Four Seasons revives portfolio sale, selling 11 homes

After a dragged-out sales process lasting over a year, UK care home operator Four Seasons Health Care (FSHC) has finally confirmed the conditional sale of some of its remaining homes. Eleven are due to sell for a total of £41.3m in cash. The deal is expected to be completed later this year.

Post Covid regulations in Spain could lead to care home closures

New regulations designed to protect an aging Spanish population post-Covid could see older, outdated care homes forced to close. HBI speaks to Alberto Fernandez, CEO of Madrid-based REIT Healthcare Activos to find out more about the risks and opportunities this presents.

Major outside hires at Orpea and AXA Health

This week, two major personnel changes were announced, one at the top of the French nursing home group Orpea and the other at UK health insurer AXA Health. Both names are outside hires, Fabienne Dulac from French telecoms company Orange France, and Heather Smith from financial service provider Allianz respectively.

Commissioners hurt UK care homes

UK nursing homes are facing record fines and the prospect of financial failure, but one market expert argues that providers shouldn’t be shouldering the burden alone. HBI investigates who or what exactly is to blame and what more can be done to alleviate pressures and improve the quality of care.

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