THE future of Clare Park Hospital in Crondall is in new hands after BUPA sold the hospital to Legal & General Ventures on July 23. Clare Park is one of nine hospitals around the country that has been sold by BUPA to LGV for an aggregate purchase price of £85m. Under the new owners, the hospital will be known as a Classic Hospital. Michael Mowlem of LGV, said: "We are delighted to be backing Classic Hospitals as a new participant in the private hospital sector. This is a first-class group of hospitals headed by a dynamic and experienced management team. "The private healthcare sector is continuing to demonstrate strong levels of growth and we believe this business has the right credentials to make significant impact. LGV's buy and build focus is ideally suited to consolidating Classic Hospitals' position as a major player in the private hospitals sector." Louise Bruce, the general manager of Clare Park Hospital, was keen to reassure patients that the hospital's services would not be compromised by the change of ownership. "We expect to see the maintenance of really high-quality care and a commitment to a great deal of investment into the hospital," she said. "All of our staff have been retained and our consultants also remain the same. In addition, we will be providing a higher level of service for cosmetic surgery locally, so people do not have to look for cosmetic services in London."
