Care UK acquires UK Specialist Hospitals

The deal nearly doubles the amount of elective surgery centres Care UK operates, taking its total number of centres to 11.

UK Specialist Hospitals has five treatment centres in the south west of England.

The company has treated more than 95,000 NHS patients in the south west since opening its first hospital in 2005.  

Mike Parish, Care UK chief executive, said: “Increased numbers of patients will have quicker access to elective care, an extended range of services and reduced waiting times.

“Both Care UK and UK Specialist Hospitals have clearly demonstrated the ability to reduce the time individual patients spend in hospital and to virtually eliminate the risk of infections such as MRSA or C difficile.”

The move follows Care UK’s acquisition of out-of-hours provider Harmoni for £48m in November 2012.

The deal created an organisation which provides unscheduled care for more than 15 million patients.

Harmoni won 12 NHS 111 contracts, making the former GP co-operative the most successful commercial provider in the race for NHS 111 contracts. Care UK partnered with Capita to bid for NHS 111 contracts but withdrew from the procurement process early on.

Care UK runs over 50 primary care services – including GP and walk-in services, out of hours and diagnostics centres.