Dr Chai Patel CBE FRCP, Founder and retiring Chairman of HC-One, received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Knight Frank Healthcare & Senior Living Dinner 2019.

This prestigious prize is recognition of Dr Patel’s significant contributions to the health and social care sector over the course of more than 40 years.

The Knight Frank Healthcare & Senior Living Dinner is an annual event which brings together the leading figures in health and social care to fundraise for The Matt Hampson Foundation, as well as launch the Knight Frank Luxury Care Home Guide and the Knight Frank Senior Living Guide.

This year’s event took place on 3rd October at the London Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square. Dr Patel took to the stage to hand out the Luxury Care Home Award, the Care Home Design Award, the Senior Living Small Scheme Award, and the Senior Living Large Scheme Award. He was then himself presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by Jane Ashcroft, Chief Executive of Anchor Hanover, before taking part in an on-stage interview about his experiences and predictions for the future of the sector.

Dr Patel’s career achievements include: the formation of care company Care First; transforming the Priory Group as Chief Executive; the turnaround and successful sale of specialist care company CMG; and creating HC-One from the bankrupt Southern Cross portfolio to save the homes and livelihoods of thousands of people, before going on to transform it into a leading UK care home provider as both Chief Executive and Chairman. He is retiring from his post as Chairman of HC-One, effective from 31st October.

Commenting on the decision to give Dr Patel the Lifetime Achievement Award, Julian Evans, Head of Healthcare at Knight Frank, said: “The Knight Frank Lifetime Achievement Award recognises the leaders who have dedicated their careers to contributing to the health and social care sector and there is no doubt that Chai Patel is a worthy winner. He richly deserves to win this prestigious accolade and we are pleased to give him the recognition he deserves and wish him well in his retirement.”

Dr Patel said: “Thank you very much to Knight Frank, and Jane Ashcroft, for presenting me with the Lifetime Achievement Award. I am humbled to be singled out in this way amongst many worthy peers in this sector. Of course, I would not be where I am today without the support of many important individuals and dedicated teams over the years, so I would like to extend my thanks to each and every one of them as well for playing such key roles in my journey so far.”

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