Capita acquires medical reporting and screening specialist

The Capita Group has acquired 100 per cent of the shares of Premier Medical, a provider of medical reporting and screening services across the UK, for a cash consideration of £60 million on a cash-free, debt-free basis. Capita are hoping to develop its business in markets requiring these healthcare services, especially in occupational health .

The move adds to the group’s existing services for the health market, such as the running of the NHS Choices programme and CHKS, the health informatics firm. It also administers the Information Standard for healthcare information and the payment of national health patient fees to dentists on behalf of NHS BSA.

Premier Medical employs nearly 300 staff in four offices in Ludlow, Pangbourne, Lincoln and London, and is expected to post an operating profit of GBP8 million for the current financial year.

Paul Pindar, chief executive of Capita, said This acquisition will add important new expertise to Capita’s range of health services, enabling us to provide a full suite of medical reporting and screening services.

Harry Brunjes, Chairman of Premier Merdial, commented that This is an important step in the evolution of Premier Medical Group; our growth to date has been concentrated on the medico legal sector. With Capita Health supporting our future expansion we are confident that we can achieve similar success in the Life Assurance and Occupational Health space.