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The private equity backer of the likes of Gusto and The Alchemist has acquired a majority stake in a North West-headquartered health and homecare services provider.

Palatine Private Equity has invested in Routes Healthcare which operates from 14 service centres, employing 120 operational and management staff, along with 1,000 carers.

The Macclesfield business provides specialist complex care packages for people with long-term health conditions, clinically led enhanced homecare packages and end of life care, enabling people to spend their final days at home.

Key Capital Partners invested in Routes in 2016, and along with the founder Andrew Healing, will retain a minority stake.

The core of Routes Healthcare’s existing management team will also remain with the business following the deal. Andy Lees and Tom Wildig from Palatine will join the board.

Tom Wildig, investment director at Palatine, said: "We have been hugely impressed with what Jackie and the team at Routes have achieved over the last two years and are excited to work with them to deliver their plan.

"The vastly experienced team, robust centralised processes, governance and infrastructure render it ideally suited to organic expansion through opening new sites as well as selected M&A.

"As NHS and local authority procurement of community and home-based services evolves, with the transition to integrated care systems, Routes’ ability to rapidly deliver flexible, scalable packages across the acuity spectrum makes it well-placed to continue on its rapid growth trajectory.