Cinven Partners is to rebrand BUPA hospitals under its own Spire Healthcare logo. The private equity firm, which bought the 25 hospitals and one treatment centre from BUPA, will start the rebranding next month.

It is also considering a range of new business opportunities, including a push into the rapidly growing British market for cosmetic surgery. The number of cosmetic procedures performed in the UK grew by about 53 per cent last year and the market now is worth more than £500 million a year.

According to Dr Jean-Jacques de Gorter, Spire’s director of clinical services, the group is also considering the introduction of home-based diagnostic testing, as well as podiatry and chemotherapy services. He added that Spire may also seek to boost revenues by opening small injury clinics at some of its hospitals and seeking to win contracts to perform work for local NHS primary care trusts.

BUPA, founded in 1947, sold its hospitals to pay off debt and focus on insurance and care homes. The BUPA name will live on in these businesses.

Before the sale, the hospitals accounted for 11 per cent of BUPA’s revenues, while insurance and care homes represented 75 per cent and 14 per cent.

There is no longer any obligation for BUPA patients to be treated at former BUPA hospitals, which include the Murrayfield hospital in Edinburgh and the Cambridge Lea hospital in Cambridge.

At the time of the sale, BUPA’s former hospitals group employed 5,800 people and boasted 1,544 beds.

The group is the third-largest provider of private medical services in the UK. Revenues this year are expected to reach £457 million, with earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of £100.2 million, a rise of 9 per cent on 2006.

Since the sale, BUPA has confirmed its plans to create Australia’s biggest health fund by merging its local division with MBF, the market’s second-biggest player.

BUPA said that it had held talks with MBF. BUPA Australia, which is seeking regulatory approval for the proposal, is thought to be keen to return to the negotiating table before the planned demutualisation of MBF at the end of the year.

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