Derbyshire Health United Limited (DHU) draws on
the long experience of two founder companies in providing healthcare services across
Derbyshire. DHU was created by merging a Chesterfield based company called 'Derbyshire Healthcare Limited' (DHC) and a Derby
City based company called 'Derbyshire Medical Services Limited'
(DMS). As the founding organisations were locally based, they brought significant
experience and knowledge to DHU for meeting the health needs of the local population.
The company was established in 1989 to provide out of hours cover through a General
Practitioner (GP) ‘co-operative’ which is a group of local GPs, for GP Practices
within the city of Derby. In line with the national trend, an ever increasing number
of doctors wished to take advantage of its services and by 1995 the company had
expanded, reorganised and relocated to purpose built premises in central Derby.
By 1998 DMS was providing services for 90 practices and over 300 GPs. These services
were extended to a patient population of 350,000 living within a 500 square mile
catchment area in Southern Derbyshire, covering both urban and rural areas. In 2001
the company’s involvement and full clinical and technical integration with NHS Direct
underpinned its ability to meet and deliver ever changing services to the NHS.
Whilst around 80% of the work DMS undertook was an out of hours commitment, the
company also provided its services to the police authority, the prison service and
also to local community hospitals. In addition it also offered locum GP services
during the daytime.
Derbyshire Healthcare Limited was registered in
2004. The company provided a range of unscheduled clinical care and related services
for the local health community on a not for profit basis, building on the services
and expertise developed in its predecessor company, North
Derbyshire Doctors Ltd, over the preceding 10-years.
DHC was commissioned to provide primary care services during the out-of-hours period
on behalf of the three North Derbyshire Primary Care Trusts (PCT)s since. This service
covered some 350,000 patients.
Following a successful tendering process, DHC provided Call Handling and Triage
services, together with Clinician Advice to Specialist Practitioners, to Bassetlaw
PCT from April 2006, covering a patient population of approximately 109,000 patients
registered with 12 GP practices.
Additional healthcare services were provided to the local PCTs, community hospitals
and GP Surgeries.