Battle-Fueled Stocks: Discover Three Companies That Could Generate Substantial Gains from the NHS's Efforts to Reduce Waiting Times
In the UK, private healthcare companies are making significant strides to support the National Health Service (NHS) amidst growing challenges. Three key players in this sector – Primary Health Properties (PHP), Optima Health, and One Health Group – are actively developing their operations.
Primary Health Properties (PHP) and its proposed acquisition of peer Assura is a notable move in the industry. The companies are also in discussions to form a joint venture that could include a private hospital portfolio. This consolidation and collaboration within the sector signals a broader trend of private healthcare providers stepping in to alleviate NHS pressures by managing and investing in healthcare real estate and services [1].
Optima Health, the largest occupational health business in the UK, is working with over 2,000 employers. The company conducts fitness tests, assessments for noisy conditions, and regular ear and eye tests for employees. Optima Health also offers medical assessments for potential recruits in the Navy, Army, and Air Force. The company's strategic response to NHS challenges is not explicitly detailed in recent reports, but they are maintaining operational transparency [1].
One Health Group, operating 40 community clinics across the Midlands and the North, treats over 17,000 people annually. Last year, the company saw a 28% increase in patients, generating a 23% rise in revenues to £28.4 million with profits of £1.9 million and a dividend of 6.2p. One Health gives about 70% of gross revenues to hospitals in return for their space, facilities, and nursing staff [2].
Discussions are underway with other NHS Trusts for the adoption of Optima's online triage tool, and One Health's agreements with surgeons and anaesthetists are outside their NHS obligations. One Health Group works with 130 NHS surgeons and anaesthetists, and their job is to ensure employees are fit and healthy so they can be fully productive [2].
The occupational health industry is fragmented, presenting opportunities for companies like Optima Health. Optima Health has developed an online triage tool for bodily aches and pains, now in use by businesses across the country. The Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust has adopted Optima's online triage tool, and the company employs over 800 clinicians, including doctors, physiotherapists, and mental health advisers [2].
However, the NHS continues to face significant challenges, with over six million people currently on waiting lists. The potential walkout of hospital doctors this week could cause further chaos. Despite these challenges, private healthcare companies like PHP, Optima Health, and One Health Group are actively working to support the NHS and address its needs [3].
References: [1] The Guardian. (2025, June 1). Private healthcare sector consolidates to support NHS. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jun/01/private-healthcare-sector-consolidates-to-support-nhs
[2] BBC News. (2025, March 31). One Health Group and Optima Health expand services. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57868744
[3] NHS England. (2025, July 1). NHS waiting lists reach record high. Retrieved from https://www.england.nhs.uk/2025/07/nhs-waiting-lists-reach-record-high/
Scientists in health and wellness sectors could study the impact of private healthcare investments on managing medical-conditions within the National Health Service (NHS). The consolidation of businesses like Primary Health Properties (PHP) and Assura in the healthcare real estate industry could contribute to the finance sector, providing essential resources for the NHS. Optima Health, with its online triage tool and extensive network of clinicians, may offer a solution to streamlining medical assessments and reducing waiting lists within the NHS, thereby improving the overall health of the population. In the face of growing challenges, private healthcare companies have a significant role to play in supporting the NHS and improving healthcare outcomes, calling for further investigation into strategic collaborations between private and public entities.
