Ambitious family-owned Cymru Healthcare is launching a new decontamination service to help protect private nursing homes and carers from outbreaks of superbugs such as C Difficile and MRSA.
The Valleys healthcare company has developed a decontamination unit, which allows bed mattresses and covers to be cleaned thoroughly at high temperatures, ensuring they are infection free when used for other patients.
Cymru Healthcare, which was advised by leading independent chartered accountants and business advisers, Watts Gregory LLP of Cardiff on a move to the Triangle Business Park in Merthyr – where tripling of space to 12,000 sq ft has cleared the way for expansion. The family business was set up 13 years ago in Taffs Well before moving in 2000 to Aberdare.
The firm developed the unit in response to government legislation that called on hospitals, care homes and other healthcare providers to confirm to decontamination standards, minimising the spread of hospital superbugs
Wynne Willliams, Managing Director of Cymru Healthcare, which supplies medical and surgical items mainly to nursing homes and those caring for patients in the community, said: “Infection control is vital, both in the interests of protecting our clients in their businesses and their patients, by ensuring clean and safe products are provided.
“We’ve developed a contamination unit so that pressure mattresses and covers that are sent to us are treated hygienically so there is no possibility of infection when they are used by other patients in the future.”
Cymru Healthcare, which began operations with just two employees, has seen its turnover rise to £1.5m a year. The number of people it employs has increased to 11 with more jobs to be created as the business continues to expand.
Aberdare-born Wynne Williams said: “The NHS obviously has its own arrangements but I’m not aware of any private healthcare company in South Wales or even Wales which is offering this decontamination service.”
Wynne Williams, who has worked in the medical supplies industry for 24 years, mainly within the nursing and the residential care sector, said the business had continued to develop well despite the UK recession. “The recession has not had an impact because of the nature of the sector we supply to. We provide professional operators with quality products and support. We do not supply to the public, although they do get referred to us.
“The advice and support we received from Watts Gregory in making the move to Merthyr was first class.”
Lindsay Hogg, Managing Partner at Watts Gregory LLP, which is based at the Cardiff Gate Business Park, said: “Cymru Healthcare is an ambitious and go ahead company which I’ve watched develop into a very successful business.
“We helped raise the finance for the expansion of the business as well as submitting the application to the Welsh Government for grant support, providing the final piece in the jigsaw.
“Wynne Williams is hugely respected in the healthcare field and I’m pleased we’ve played a part in Cymru Healthcare’s continuing development and I’m sure their new venture will be a success.”
