NATIONAL health and social care provider Care UK, which has its head office in Colchester, is to be acquired by private equity firm Bridgepoint in a deal worth around �281million.

NATIONAL health and social care provider Care UK, which has its head office in Colchester, is to be acquired by private equity firm Bridgepoint in a deal worth around �281million.

Care UK operates a broad range of primary and secondary care services, in residential units and individual's own homes, and ranks as a market leading independent provider of healthcare services to the NHS.

Bridgepoint aims to accelerate Care UK's growth, including selective acquisitions, with the current executive management team remaining in place. The front line provision and management of care services will be unaffected.

Mike Parish, chief executive of Care UK, said: “I believe this development is good news for the company and for our customers, patients and service users.”