Sovereign Health Care has marked its 150th anniversary year with an event at St George’s Hall, Bradford, celebrating the positive impact its partnerships with local charities and NHS Trusts have on the health and wellbeing of people across Yorkshire. During the event, Sovereign also announced new donations totalling £80,000 to Leeds, Airedale and Harrogate hospitals, the latest beneficiaries of a record £1.5 million being donated to the local community to mark this landmark year.
The evening, hosted by Bradford GP, bestselling author and TV expert, Dr Amir Khan, paid tribute to a range of Yorkshire community organisations, charities and NHS Trusts with films showcasing the impact of Sovereign’s donations, which have totalled £10.2 million over the last 16 years alone.
Dr Amir reflected on how health care has been revolutionised over the last 150 years and shared his own first-hand observations from his work in the community, saying: “150 years ago, we were only expected to live into our forties. Compare that to today when, on average, we live well into our eighties. We now care for an ageing population and deliver treatment which would have been science fiction back then.
“Sovereign Health Care has been a constant throughout these changes and has adapted to make sure it continues to help people access essential everyday health care. I’m delighted to be here to help celebrate Sovereign’s 150th and hear direct from just some of the organisations its partnered with to help support the wellbeing of people across Yorkshire.”
Sovereign’s event featured interviews with Chairs and senior clinicians from Bradford Teaching Hospitals, Leeds Teaching Hospitals and Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trusts, highlighting the impact of Sovereign’s funding of pioneering medical facilities and equipment on patient outcomes and staff. The evening also included music from Bradford Grammar School’s Concert Band, and representatives from charities and community organisations including Marie Curie Hospice Bradford, Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Bradford City of Culture 2025, discussing how donations positively touch people’s lives.
In a keynote speech, Sovereign CEO, Russ Piper, said: “I am so proud that, despite all the changes throughout our lives, Sovereign Health Care stands tall. We remain a not-for-profit business; a good corporate citizen which chooses to make a positive difference to people’s lives…When I think back to the things we have supported, the key element is not necessarily how much we have given, but the consequence in terms of the positive impact on people.”
Piper also used his speech to reflect on his upcoming retirement and welcome Sovereign’s new CEO, Neil McCallum, saying: “I look forward to Neil taking Sovereign upwards in the next stage of its development.”
Sovereign Health Care was founded as the Hospital Fund of Bradford in 1873 to raise funds for local hospitals, and has remained true to its roots, donating between 5 and 10 per cent of annual turnover to charities and organisations that work to improve the health and wellbeing of those living in West Yorkshire. The NHS is a major beneficiary of this programme, receiving more than £3 million from Sovereign over the last 16 years.
A not-for-profit company, Sovereign, is one of the longest-established health care cash plan providers in the UK and remains Yorkshire-based. Sovereign has more than 67,000 customers, and works with both businesses and individuals.
For more information about Sovereign Health Care, visit sovereignhealthcare.co.uk/about