Ballykelly private hospital sold to expanding Kingsbridge group

It is understood the majority of the current services offered at the Co Londonderry clinic will remain in place and no staff have lost their jobs as a result of the acquisition.

Employees were told about the sale last week and it is believed work has already begun to update the clinic, with new signs going up outside the premises yesterday.

An internal memo, seen by the Belfast Telegraph, was sent to staff and clinicians working at North West Independent Clinic at the start of last week and said: "The Stewart family and their committed staff have developed this into a leading private hospital in Northern Ireland over the last 25 years.

"We wish to recognise their contribution and are committed to taking Kingsbridge North West to the next stage of its development over the coming years.

"Anthony McKenna, a native of the north west region himself, has been appointed as hospital general manager.

"Anthony has led the group’s medical imaging and diagnostics company for six years."

The memo includes comments from the chief executive of Kingsbridge Private Hospitals, Mark Regan, who said that expansion of services into the area was “a natural objective of the group”.

He continued: “We already have a clinic in Letterkenny, so it was a natural fit for us to ensure that patients from the wider North West region were accommodated closer to home.

"Kingsbridge North West is central to our plans to not only build on current services offered at the hospital, but to deliver a wide range of specialisms that will significantly enhance the choice available to everyone in the region.

"Even more importantly, it will allow us as a group to direct additional business to the hospital, which in turn will benefit the local economy as friends and relatives book hotel rooms and restaurants, as well as shop in the local area.”

A spokeswoman from Kingsbridge Healthcare Group confirmed the sale and said: “We are delighted to welcome the team of excellent clinicians and staff to the Kingsbridge family.”

The hospital, which originally opened in 1989, is registered for 35 overnight beds and 13 day case spaces. It also has three operating theatres, a dedicated endoscopy suite. an X-ray department, central sterile services department and a range of consulting rooms.