Meridian Healthcare has completed its acquisition of April Park Nursing & Care Centre in Derbyshire, a 40 bed facility offering high quality nursing and residential care beds.

The integration of purpose built April Park into the group will bring the total number of beds owned by Meridian to 1058, making it one of the largest independent healthcare operators in the UK. The newly acquired April Park joins others including the award winning White Rose House in the growing north east division of the group.

April Park is the third care centre acquisition to complete during 2005. The Meridian team have had a busy year, having started the build of 54-bed luxury Roby House in Huyton, Knowsley and with the purchase of two other facilities: Ash Court in Liverpool and John Joseph Powell also in the Knowsley area. Additional beds have also been realised at newly refurbished Fazakerley House in Prescot.

Operations Director Susan Firth and Operations Manager Mandy Bennett joined Care Centre Manager Marie Spencer to welcome staff and residents to Meridian Healthcare on the day of the acquisition. Marie Spencer has worked at April Park for over 9 years and was appointed to her current post of Care Centre Manager in 1999.

‘April Park complements our growing range of facilities and can only add value to our excellent high quality portfolio of homes’ commented Susan Firth. She continued: ‘the staff at April park are very experienced and we warmly welcome Marie to our group of managers. We are sure she will be a great addition to the team.’

Ends.
Photographs show:
• Exterior of April Park.
• Group Operations Director Susan Firth, Operations Manager Mandy Bennett and April Park Care Centre Manager Marie Spencer.

Notes:
• Meridian Healthcare own 23 Care Centers throughout the north of England.

For further information please contact:
Tessa Matthews, Meridian Healthcare, 0161 368 9099 tmatthews@meridiancare.co.uk

April Park in Sheffield