Synergy celebrates a healthy outlook

Oct 27 2008 by Karen Dent, The Journal

A HEALTHCARE company which began life as a home-based business is aiming to more than double its turnover to break the half million pound barrier within two years.

Physiotherapy business Synergy Healthcare, which operates from its headquarters in Bedlington in Northumberland and has a clinic in Newcastle, is planning to open a further centre in North Tyneside as it expands the occupational therapy side of the business.

The clinics also offer treatment for sports injuries, neurological rehabilitation, biomechanics assessment and diagnostic ultrasound as well as the more usual back and neck pain.

Synergy, which was named Business of the Year at the Wansbeck Business Awards earlier this month, was set up as a one-man businesses by Keith Fitzsimmons nine years ago. It now employs five full and part-time physiotherapists, plus an office administrator.

Fitzsimmons said: “It has been very exciting to watch the growth of the business over the years, and our rapid expansion has been a mark of the quality of service we offer.

“To win the Business of the Year award was the icing on the cake and recognises the hard work that my wife Emma and I have put in over the last few years.”

He is concentrating on expanding the occupational therapy side of the business, which has recently secured contracts worth more than £340,000 with customers including Greggs, Stagecoach and the RAF. Rather than staff visiting a clinic, Synergy physiotherapists go out to the workplace.

Janet Patterson, senior occupational health adviser at Greggs, said: “Knowing the benefits of early intervention, I felt an on-site physiotherapy service would enhance the care for our employees. This service continues to benefit the employees and the business as we can offer preventative interventions to enable employees to continue work without impacting on their health.”