Serco has announced a partnership agreement with Bromley Healthcare, an employee-owned social enterprise, to work together in the community healthcare market.

Initially the partners will work together to improve quality of community healthcare in Suffolk, with Bromley Healthcare acting in an advisory capacity and supporting clinical leaders. In the long term, they intend to join forces to bid for a range of opportunities in community services and integrated care across the UK.

This move is part of Serco's drive to enhance the quality of its healthcare services in Suffolk after the service came underfire when  NHS commissioners, reportedly, found it missing targets. Improving the quality of services is key to Serco's ambitions to grow its healthcare business. Major recent contract wins have included the troubled £140m Suffolk Community Health contract, won in 2012 and the £120m Anglia Support Partnership, awarded in 2011.