Circle Health, a UK private hospital operator and part of global healthcare group PureHealth, has expanded into laboratory operations across the UK through the takeover of selected UK laboratory operations from Unilabs.
The existing laboratory operations have transitioned to Circle Health and continue to provide pathology, histopathology, blood sciences, microbiology and specialist diagnostic services, serving more than 90 external healthcare clients.
Circle Health said the deal will enable the group to integrate diagnostics more closely across its hospital network, strengthening collaboration between clinicians and laboratory specialists while improving operational responsiveness, capacity and turnaround times.
Shaista Asif, group chief executive officer of PureHealth, said: “By combining Circle Health Group’s leading UK hospital network with PureHealth’s global diagnostics expertise, we are building a more connected model of care that will benefit patients and healthcare partners across the UK.”
Circle Health is supported by PureLab, PureHealth’s laboratory subsidiary. PureLab manages more than 150 laboratories and processes over 25 million tests annually, supported by advanced automation, AI-enabled diagnostics and internationally accredited laboratory operations.
Circle Health said PureLab’s experience will help it further develop an integrated diagnostics model across its UK operations.
It added that alongside supporting Circle’s hospitals, the laboratory network will prioritise providing high-quality diagnostic services to its existing external healthcare clients across the UK as well as potential new prospects.
Paul Manning, chief executive officer at Circle Health, (pictured) said: “Integrating diagnostics more closely with our hospitals allows us to deliver a more connected model of care. It strengthens collaboration between clinicians and laboratory specialists, improves operational responsiveness and provides a strong foundation to support our continued growth while maintaining high-quality services for our external healthcare partners.
“At the heart of this integration, our key priority is to ensure patients can access high-quality diagnostics swiftly, seamlessly and closer to where they receive their care. By bringing these capabilities together across our UK network, we can expand access, accelerate diagnostic pathways and enable better, more timely clinical decisions for patients.
“Our ambition is to build a truly world-class diagnostics network for the UK. We will invest in advanced equipment, next-generation technologies, AI and exceptional clinical and scientific talent to set a new benchmark for diagnostic excellence and deliver high-quality, accessible services to patients and healthcare partners across the country.”
