Healthcare recruiter Healthcare Locums (HCL) has recorded “very strong” performances across all its divisions last year and it predicts continuing growth in each of its divisions into 2010.

In a trading update for the year ending 31 December 2009, HCL says its international permanent placement division encountered a particularly strong second half in 2009 following office openings in Australia, Canada and Abu Dhabi in the second half of the year.

In the UK, HCL says, its doctors, qualified social workers and Allied Health Professional businesses have continued to deliver good performances driven by the ageing population, and a deficit of appropriately qualified health and social care professionals available to meet this demand.

Kate Bleasdale, executive vice chairman of Healthcare Locums, says: “We are very pleased with the company’s performance which demonstrates that we can continue to deliver very strong organic growth. We are operating in a marketplace that is not exposed to the negative impact of the wider economic environment and the opportunities for our business are very exciting. 

“The UK health and social care flexible staffing market is currently worth in excess of £1.4bn annually, and an international market for permanent placements of healthcare professionals is worth over £8bn. We look forward to 2010 with confidence.”