Zimbabwe-born Fungai Ndemera has been shortlisted for the Entrepreneurial Spirit Award category at the 2020 Great British Entrepreneur Awards for the Midlands region.

The owner of three UK-based healthcare businesses, including Flame Lily Healthcare Limited, Fungai has been recognised as a leading entrepreneur in the digital health recruitment sector and will be up for the prestigious award when the virtual regional finals take place later this year in September 2020.

"The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible." – Arthur C. Clarke

Inspired by these wise words, Fungai set up her primary business, The Flame Lily Healthcare, as a solution to a gap in the healthcare recruitment sector. A one-stop-shop for healthcare recruitment needs, 75% of the business’s clients are from the NHS, but the recruitment provider also serves CCGs, councils and private clients.

A leading Framework-approved nursing and care recruitment provider, the company offers bespoke technology-driven staffing solutions to ensure happy clients with peace of mind, striving to put quality at the heart of everything they do. A commitment that is demonstrated by the recent NHS audit score of 100% compliance.

"You can’t solve a problem on the same level that it was created. You have to rise above it to the next level." – Albert Einstein

As a response to increased appointment waiting times amid the coronavirus pandemic, the CheckUpHealth service - a remote doctor’s online consultation platform - was introduced in May 2020.

Fungai witnessed the struggle that patients with chronic health conditions were facing, as a result of the backlog created by the pandemic and an unprecedented strain on the NHS. The new service enabled patients to be seen by a doctor during a video consultation, with the addition of innovative digital health technology and advanced features.

Fungai believes: "When in tough times, you should double down on innovation. Downturns are prime territory for disruption."

The CheckupHealth App allows patients to share their records and information with the GP during the appointment, mirroring what would happen during a face-to-face visit as closely as possible, as GPs can review patient records in real-time enabling better diagnosis.

In addition to the Patient-Facing App, there is a complementary Doctors’ Platform, Clinic Platform and telephone appointment service. CheckUpHealth is currently facilitating return to work COVID risk assessment and management in addition to COVID MOT routine check-ups.

Websites: https://www.checkuphealth.io, https://www.theflamelily.co.uk, https://www.greatbritishentrepreneurawards.com