Spectacular views for patients at The Shard

HCA International, the UK division of Healthcare Corporation of America, the world’s largest private hospital company, has recently opened the doors to a new, ‘state-of-the-art’ Diagnostic and Outpatient Centre spanning three floors of one of London’s most prominent and iconic buildings – The Shard. HEJ editor, Jonathan Baillie, recently met with the company’s senior construction project manager, Stephen Kimp, to find out more about the latest addition to the HCA network, and a new joint venture with Guy’s Hospital.

The parent company of HCA International is based in the US, and is known as Hopsital Corporation of America, or HCA Inc. As the world’s largest private hospital group, HCA Inc has 164 hospitals and 106 outpatient centres worldwide, with an estimated turnover of around US$ 30 bn. 

he UK division was established in 1996, when HCA first entered the UK market through a joint venture with AXA, and welcomed to its portfolio The Harley Street Clinic, The Princess Grace Hospital, The Portland Hospital, and The Wellington Hospital. In 2000 HCA took full ownership of these facilities, and also acquired The Lister Hospital and the London Bridge Hospital. Since then HCA has gone on to develop a network of outpatient and diagnostic centres across London, Kent, and Essex. In 2006 the first HCA joint venture was established with the NHS – through a partnership with University College Hospital, and since then further joint ventures have been developed at St Bartholomew’s, Guy’s Hospital, Queen’s Hospital in Essex, and The Christie in Manchester.