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 elderly people have helped drive sales up 9pc at Nuffield Health to £840m.

It said: “While a segment 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 population is increasingly getting older.”

In accounts published at 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.

Full story in The Telegraph, 31/07/2017