Nuffield Health sales leap as NHS comes under strain
THE deteriorating health of the UK population has boosted turnover at one of Britain’s largest private hospital operators as the NHS comes under growing strain.
Increasingly unhealthy lifestyles and a growing number of old people have helped drive sales up 9pc at Nuffield Health to £840m. It said: “While a seg- ment of the population is taking increasing responsibility for its own health, large sections are not.
“As a whole, the population is becoming more sedentary, contributing to increasing levels of obesity and associated costs. In addition, the UK popu- lation is increasingly getting older.”
In accounts published on Companies House, Nuffield Health said it was “well placed” to support those looking to make lifestyle changes to improve their health, as turnover rose by £72m. The group was also boosted by its acquisition of 35 gyms from Virgin Active, which it said moved it into the top three fitness providers in the UK and contributed £38m of additional revenues overall.
Its surplus after tax, which is reinvested in the business, swung to £2.6m from a £3.9m loss in the previous year.
The group, which runs a network of hospitals, clinics and fitness centres, added that there was evidence that the independent healthcare market was growing amid pressures on the NHS.
“In 2015, the percentage of procedures paid for directly by the patient – self-pay – increased by nearly 9pc (total value £898m),” it said.
It provided 1.1m clinical interventions last year, an increase of 22pc. Its hospital division increased its turnover by £26m, a rise of 5pc. The addition of 35 gyms sent turnover in its well-being business up 19pc.
Steve Gray, the chief executive, said: “The organisation will almost certainly experience pressures as the implications of the EU referendum are felt.”