08 February 2010

Assura has been named as a finalist for 'Property Investor of the Year' in this year’s Heath Investor Awards.

The awards are designed to promote excellence and innovation in the healthcare sector and recognise organisations and individuals that have made an outstanding contribution to the industry in 2009.

Assura has been recognised as one of the leading investors and developers of primary care property in the UK. Despite the commercial property market being badly hit in the economic downturn of 2009, Assura concluded a series of deals with a combined value of £74.2m and maintained a top performing property portfolio.

In addition, two of Assura's properties were short listed for 'Property of the Year'. The two nominated health centres are Freshney Green Primary Care Centre, Grimsby and the Adelaide Health Centre, Millbrook which were completed in September 2009 and October 2009.

Commenting on the short listing, Richard Burrell, said: "We are delighted to be a finalist in this year’s awards. These nominations are a tribute to Assura's property investment and development strategy which is committed to the provision of high quality, purpose built facilities that are suited to the evolving NHS and the continued changes to the way the NHS is run."

The list of finalists – which were short listed by Health Investor’s editorial panel – will be passed to the independent judging panel, who will select a winner in each category to be announced at an awards dinner on 27th May 2010.

This year’s judging panel includes former health minister, Lord Ara Darzi KBE, Bob Ricketts, the Department of Health’s director of system management and new enterprise and Nick Bosanquet, professor of health policy at Imperial College London.

ENDS

Press enquiries regarding Assura Group to:

Russell Elliott, Assura Group.
Tel: 020 7107 3833

Louise Bathersby, Assura Group.
Tel: 020 7107 3830