Spire Healthcare agrees acquisition of Gerrards Cross Hospital

Spire Healthcare, the private hospital group owned by leading private equity firm Cinven, has reached agreement to acquire Gerrards Cross Hospital from General Healthcare Group.

 

The hospital in Wexham, Slough was bought by General Healthcare Group from Nuffield Hospitals earlier this year but is now being sold to Spire Healthcare to avoid any potential for reduced competition in the local market. The sale is expected to complete at the end of March and the hospital will be rebranded Spire.

 

The Gerrards Cross hospital has 50 beds and 119 staff and provides a range of high quality procedures from routine investigations to complex surgery.

 

The move follows Spire’s acquisition of ten Classic Hospitals last month. Spire Healthcare, which was acquired from BUPA in June 2007, will now have a total of 36 hospitals across the UK, making it the country’s second largest private hospital provider.

 

Robert Wise, Chief Executive Officer of Spire Healthcare, said: “Following our purchase of the Classic group this is a great opportunity to add another quality hospital to Spire’s portfolio. It fits with our new status as a stand-alone healthcare provider and our strategy to grow our business and focus on premium private healthcare.”

 

Adrian Fawcett, chief executive of General Healthcare Group, said:  “We are naturally disappointed that the hospital will be sold on, however we recognise that it is better to address any potential competition issues early, so that certainty is re-established as quickly as possible.”