Assura has stated that it is "extremely well-placed" to support the NHS and the wider healthcare market, as it announced its results for the first quarter of its financial year.

The specialist healthcare property investor and developer said that in the three months to 30 June, it was able to increase its quarterly dividend by 2.4% to 0.84 pence per share, as announced in its full year results, coming into effect in the July 2024 payment.

The news comes after the firm entered into a joint venture with the largest private pension scheme in the country, USS, valued at £250m.

Although the company's 612-strong portfolio’s annualised rent roll dropped by just short of 1% quarter-to-quarter to £149.2m, the group said it completed three developments with a combined spend of £46m, including a GP surgery, an ambulance hub and its largest in-house development project to date.

It added that it is currently on site with five developments, with a total cost of £46m, with £32m yet to be spent.

Assura also has a pipeline of 15 capital asset enhancement projects, with a projected spend of £9m, over the next two years.

Chief executive officer at Assura, Jonathan Murphy, said: "Over the first three months of our financial year we have continued to deliver on our strategic objectives, and remain extremely well-placed to help support the NHS and wider healthcare market.

"The UK healthcare crisis is getting more severe by the year, which in turn is driving increased demand for healthcare infrastructure. The requirement for investment in this space has received cross-party political support, and we look forward to working with whichever party is in Government following today's election."

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