Phoenix Hospital Group acquires Baddow Hospital

Phoenix Hospital Group (PHG) has expanded outside of central London for the first time with the acquisition of Baddow Hospital in Chelmsford, Essex for an undisclosed sum.

PHG, which specialises in short-stay elective surgery, cosmetic procedures and diagnostics, said the acquisition was part of a wider business strategy to deliver its services outside the London market and that the acquisition offered ‘exciting opportunities’ to work collegiately with consultants in Essex.

Baddow Hospital, which provides a range of treatments including cosmetic surgery, gynaecology, ENT, foot, ankle and general surgery, was put up for sale at the end of last year after receivers FRP Advisory LLP were appointed to seek a buyer.

The site opened in 2013 as part of Essex Healthcare Park but struggled to attract NHS work at sustained margins and faced further difficulties after Spire Healthcare, which operates a cancer radiotherapy centre at an adjacent site, walked away from an oncology joint venture.

However, PHG said the hospital, which includes a laminar flow operating theatre, five consulting rooms and a number of treatment suites, had maintained an excellent reputation and loyal consultant base.

Following the acquisition, the site will be renamed Phoenix Hospital Chelmsford and will also offer patients in Essex access to surgical, diagnostic and outpatient facilities across PHG.

PHG CEO Andrew Barker said: ‘Following the success and growth of the Phoenix Hospital Group over the last three years including the acquisition of 25 Harley Street in January 2018, we have experienced exceptional demand for our services and facilities and a strong interest in our approach outside of the London area.

‘Chelmsford is an area of very high private medical insurance penetration with many of the local population working in London and is a growing economy with a strong self-pay market. All of these factors support the establishment of Phoenix Hospital Chelmsford as a centre of excellence for private healthcare and provide opportunities for us to build Phoenix and establish our brand in a new and important area.’