Netcare's GHG acquires nine UK hospitals

The hospitals will form part of BMI Healthcare, GHG's acute private hospital division. GHG is the largest independent hospital group in the UK and Netcare owns the controlling stake (50,1%) in GHG. Transfer of ownership is to take place on 1st February 2008, although this date is subject to change in order to ensure a smooth transition.

The sale portfolio comprises hospitals in Birmingham, Bury St Edmunds, Gerrards Cross, Harrogate, Huddersfield, Lancaster, Lincoln, North London and Nottingham. Their addition brings the total number of Netcare's UK-based private hospitals to 58.

According to Dr Richard Friedland, CEO of Netcare, the Group has committed itself to broadening access to high quality private patient care in all the markets that they serve: “This investment gives us access to communities and parts of the UK where we previously had no footprint. It will enable us to offer top quality patient care to a greater proportion of the British population.”

Adrian Fawcett, CEO of GHG, says he is excited about the role that the additional nine facilities will play in the Group's future. “We warmly welcome the Nuffield employees and consultants into the BMI Healthcare family. We will work closely with everyone involved to take care of patients and employees during the transitional period and beyond.”

Dr Friedland says GHG's capability to take care of the Nuffield hospitals from the word go was a considerable motivator for them to emerge as the preferred buyer. “They recognised that we are truly excited about the future of these hospitals and the fact that we have the resources to back up our capability.”