 |
Practice Plus Group is a healthcare company based in Reading, Berkshire.
Practice Plus Group was founded as Care UK in 1982 and rebranded in 2020. It is owned by the investment company Bridgepoint Group.
In November 2023, Practice Plus Group won LaingBuisson's 'Hospital Group of the Year' award.[1]
Practice Plus Group offers private patient treatment at its hospitals.[2] Its website advertises prices of up to 30% less than other private hospitals. They specialise in hip, knee and cataract surgery.
Their Secondary Care service operates six hospitals, three surgical centres, two musculoskeletal services, two Urgent Treatment Centres (providing walk-in access for the assessment and treatment of injury and illness on a no-appointment basis, or to patients referred via the NHS 111 service) and delivers ophthalmology services throughout England. The hospitals and surgical centres cover a range of specialties,[3] including orthopaedics, endoscopy, ophthalmology, urology, gynaecology, oral and general surgery. Most centres also offer diagnostic imaging, such as X-rays and MRI, CT and ultrasound scans.
Practice Plus Group’s Integrated Urgent Care division brings together NHS 111 call centres, clinical assessment, out-of-hours service and other urgent care services. [4]
The company is commissioned by NHS England to provide healthcare in over 45 prisons, from reception health checks on arrival and regular GP services, to help with substance misuse, mental health, chronic or long-term conditions, podiatry, physiotherapy and optometry.[5]
In November 2023, it was reported that a prison doctor employed by Practice Plus Group refused to prescribe Sarah Jane Baker oestrogen, saying they would only prescribe testosterone, which the Free Sarah Jane Baker campaign said "amounts to a medical detransition". A company spokesperson said they were "fully committed to providing appropriate care for trans patients".[6][7]
Practice Plus Group delivers NHS services meeting a range of healthcare needs.
They are regulated by the Care Quality Commission and use the same governance and accountability procedures as the NHS.[8]
