The effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the economy have been severe and far-reaching but many people would not expect a business that supplies healthcare professionals to have suffered as well. Like a host of different organisations though, London Healthcare Locums Ltd have needed financial assistance to help it through the pandemic.
The Ilford-based firm supplies doctors and nurses to a host of NHS acute and mental health trusts but has needed a £200,000 loan from Nat West from the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme.
This government initiative was set up to support small and medium-sized businesses and provides lenders, such as NatWest, with a guarantee of 80 per cent of a qualifying loan.
Dr Naeem Aslam, who founded the business in 2014, said: “What happened in the pandemic and lockdowns was non-Covid emergencies, routine procedures, routine listing of surgeries, routine imaging like CT scans, MRI, were all cancelled, so where we were sending ten members of staff to hospitals we’ve been sending only three who have been working in Covid emergency areas like ITU and A&E. It affected our business greatly.
“That £200,000 helped us survive with paying bills, our fixed costs, professional costs for the business, we’ve got 25 members of staff. It definitely helped because the volume of business was going down despite being in the healthcare sector.”
We have been supporting local business during the pandemic
Dr Aslam, who has also been working on the frontline in A&E during the pandemic as well as running the business, admitted: “It was a hard time. It still is. Until June we’ll be having very low activity. We have 600 nurses registered with us and at the moment only 75 are working, so you can imagine the loss we suffered in the year.”
Despite the difficulties of the past 12 months, Dr Aslam is optimistic about the future and is looking forward to London Healthcare Locums again being able to supply medical staff at former levels.
He said: “Hopefully now vaccination will be completed by August, the normal outdoor clinics will open, the imaging will be restarting, the outpatient surgeries will be restored to the pre-pandemic level, then our supply will be back to the level before.”
For more information about NatWest Covid support, visit www.business.natwest.com
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