{{Short description|British private community health provider}} {{Use British English|date=November 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}} {{Infobox company | name = HCRG Care Group | logo = HCRG Care Group logo.png | former_name = Assura Medical<br>Virgin Care | type = Subsidiary | foundation = 2007 (as Assura Medical) | location = United Kingdom | industry = Health care, social care | owner = Twenty20 Capital | homepage = {{url|https://www.hcrgcaregroup.com/}} }}
'''HCRG Care Group''' is a private provider of community health and social services in parts of the United Kingdom, commissioned by the National Health Service and by local authorities in England.
Founded in 2007 as '''Assura Medical''', the company became majority-owned by the Virgin Group in 2010 and was known as '''Virgin Care'''. In December 2021, it was acquired by Twenty20 Capital and rebranded under its current name.
==History== thumb|Logo as Virgin Care The company originated in around 2007 as the Assura Medical division of property company Assura Group. A majority share was purchased by Virgin Group in 2010, and by 2012 it was a separate company under the Virgin Care brand.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=14 November 2018|url=http://www.virgincare.co.uk/about-us/our-history/|title=Our history|website=Virgin Care|archive-date=25 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025150343/http://www.virgincare.co.uk/about-us/our-history/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Until October 2012, each GP provider company was 50% owned by the surgery GPs and 50% by Virgin, and these companies were run by a board consisting of locally elected GPs and one Virgin representative. 358 surgeries were listed {{where|date=July 2023}} as being involved in mid-2012.
In October 2012 the company announced that it would be taking over all jointly owned GP-provider companies, in order to avoid any conflict of interest arising in respect of contracts with clinical commissioning groups.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.nhsforsale.info/private-providers/private-provider-profiles-2/virgin.html|title=Virgin Care Ltd|website=NHS For Sale|access-date=14 November 2018|archive-date=2 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181102172908/http://www.nhsforsale.info/private-providers/private-provider-profiles-2/virgin.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Following this change, the company made bids for contracts put out by these clinical commissioning groups, NHS England and local authorities, and has contracts stretching for more than a decade with a total potential value ({{As of|2018|lc=y}}) of £2bn.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/aug/05/virgin-awarded-almost-2bn-of-nhs-contracts-in-the-past-five-years|title=Virgin awarded almost £2bn of NHS contracts in the past five years|last=Osborne|first=Hilary|date=2018-08-05|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-08-27|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=20 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210820131950/https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/aug/05/virgin-awarded-almost-2bn-of-nhs-contracts-in-the-past-five-years|url-status=live}}</ref>
In December 2021, the company was acquired for an undisclosed sum by Twenty20 Capital,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Simons|first=Graham|date=2021-12-03|title=Twenty20 Capital buys Virgin Care|url=https://healthcareandprotection.com/twenty20-capital-buys-virgin-care/|access-date=2021-12-06|website=Health & Protection|language=en-GB}}</ref> a privately owned investor in companies that provide workforce management and recruitment services.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Portfolio|url=https://twenty20capital.com/portfolio/|access-date=2021-12-06|website=Twenty20 Capital|language=en-GB}}</ref> It was immediately rebranded as HCRG Care Group.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Introducing HCRG Care Group|url=https://virgin.com/about-virgin/virgin-group/news/introducing-hcrg-care-group|access-date=2021-12-06|website=Virgin|language=en}}</ref>
===Ransomware=== HCRG Care Group was the target of a cyberattack in February 2025 from the Medusa ransomware group. Medusa claimed to have encrypted over 50tb of data, with over 2tb of data of it being uploaded, including sensitive medical records, financial records, and identities. The group demanded $2m ransom to not release the data.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/20/uk-healthcare-giant-hcrg-confirms-hack-after-ransomware-gang-claims-theft-of-sensitive-data/|title=UK healthcare giant HCRG confirms hack after ransomware gang claims theft of sensitive data|author=Carly Page|date=20 February 2025}}</ref><ref name="tr220" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Exclusive: The Impact of the HCRG Care Group Data Breach on Patients and Employees |author=Marco A. De Felice |work=SuspectFile |date=23 February 2025 |access-date=31 March 2025 |url= https://www.suspectfile.com/exclusive-the-impact-of-the-hcrg-care-group-data-breach-on-patients-and-employees/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Exclusive: Medusa Unveils 50TB of Stolen Data from HCRG's Network, Gaining Full Control – HCRG Labeled Liars by the Ransomware Group |author=Marco A. De Felice |work=SuspectFile |date=26 February 2025 |access-date=31 March 2025 |url= https://www.suspectfile.com/exclusive-medusa-unveils-50tb-of-stolen-data-from-hcrgs-network-gaining-full-control-hcrg-labeled-liars-by-the-ransomware-group/}}</ref>
In March, HCRG Care Group attempted to use a UK court-ordered injunction to compel a cybersecurity breach reporting website, databreaches.net, to remove references to examples of data taken from HCRG Care Group's systems. The injunction was issued by High Court judge Michael Soole, based on the request by HCRG's attorneys at Pinsent Masons. The US-based maintainer of the website refused to comply due to the injunction's inapplicable jurisdiction, and published details of the injunction online, noting the chilling effects of suppressing speech. Their domain registrar also declined to comply.<ref name="tr220">{{cite web|date=20 Feb 2025|title=Medusa ransomware gang demands $2M from UK private health services provider|url=https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/20/medusa_hcrg_ransomware/|access-date=21 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=6 March 2025|title=Hacked health firm HCRG demanded journalist ‘take down’ data breach reporting, citing UK court order|url=https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/06/hacked-health-firm-hcrg-demanded-journalist-take-down-data-breach-reporting-citing-uk-court-order/|access-date=21 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Medusa ransomware infects 300+, uses 'triple extortion' |author=Jessica Lyons |work=theregister.com |date=13 March 2025 |access-date=31 March 2025 |url= https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/13/medusa_ransomware_infects_300_critical/ |quote=When DataBreaches.net reported those details, it said it was hit with a London High Court injunction brought by HCRG, which the website ultimately ignored because the dot-net's US-based operators are outside the jurisdiction of the High Court of England and Wales. The lawyers said the injunction compels publishers to not assist in the dissemination, direct or otherwise, of "some or all of the confidential information stolen during the cyber-attack," and demanded two articles about the Medusa infection be taken down. DataBreaches.net had in those two stories linked to a separate blog that had obtained and published redacted samples of the stolen healthcare data. }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=HCRG Care's lawyers claimed an injunction issued in a “private” hearing required us to remove two posts. We didn't comply. – DataBreaches.Net |author=Dissent |work=databreaches.net |date=5 March 2025 |access-date=31 March 2025 |url= https://databreaches.net/2025/03/05/hcrg-cares-lawyers-claimed-an-injunction-issued-in-a-private-hearing-required-us-to-remove-two-posts-we-didnt-comply/ |quote=Honorable Mr. Justice Soole }}</ref>
==Financial performance== ===Virgin Care Group ownership=== The company said in 2018 that it had never made a profit overall from its NHS services,<ref name=":1" /> and that it had invested its own money into the business, although accounts show that individual parts of the group with NHS contracts have made profits.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://inews.co.uk/news/health/virgin-care-no-corporation-tax-paid-profits-nhs-contracts-rise-8m-200m-turnover/|title=Virgin Care Services: no corporation tax paid as profits from NHS contracts rise to £8m on £200m turnover|last=Gallagher|first=Paul|date=2018-01-08|website=inews.co.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-08-27|archive-date=27 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827155359/https://inews.co.uk/news/health/virgin-care-no-corporation-tax-paid-profits-nhs-contracts-rise-8m-200m-turnover/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Sir Richard Branson wrote in January 2018:<ref name=":1">{{cite web|last=|date=2018-01-12|title=Virgin Care and supporting a free, efficient NHS|url=https://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/virgin-care-and-supporting-free-efficient-nhs|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805225946/https://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/virgin-care-and-supporting-free-efficient-nhs|archive-date=5 August 2020|access-date=2019-08-27|website=Virgin|language=en}}</ref><blockquote>''Over the last 50 years, I have been fortunate to build many successful companies and do not want or intend to profit personally from the NHS. Indeed, I have invested millions in Virgin Care to help it transform its services for the better and to improve both the patient and employee experience.'' ''Contrary to reports, the Virgin Care group has not made a profit to date. If and when I could take a dividend from Virgin Care (which would make us a profit over and above our overall investment), I will invest 100% of that money back into helping NHS patients young and old, with our frontline employees deciding how best to spend it.''</blockquote>
In December 2021, the company's press release said: "Neither Virgin, nor its founder, has ever taken a penny from the business, committing instead to reinvest any returns back into the company and its frontline services."<ref>{{cite news |title=Virgin Care taken over by private equity firm |url=https://www.hsj.co.uk/private-sector/virgin-care-taken-over-by-private-equity-firm/7031467.article |access-date=22 January 2022 |publisher=Health Service Journal |date=6 December 2021}}</ref>
===Twenty20 Capital ownership=== The published accounts for HCRG Care Services Ltd (Company No. 07557877) show turnover for the year ended 31 March 2025 of £277.2 million, up from £265.8 million in 2024. Profit after tax for the year to March 2025 was £10.6 million (2024: £8.9 million).<ref>https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/document-api-images-live.ch.gov.uk/docs/reSHM_0ZBjufBYNLb0OaIy8JMuZpvBZrR9nnWddggF8/application-pdf?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=ASIAWRGBDBV3DO6HUJKI%2F20260506%2Feu-west-2%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20260506T181039Z&X-Amz-Expires=60&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjENj%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FwEaCWV1LXdlc3QtMiJIMEYCIQD%2BndNJKDnp14LXzQmgTgqJ9NF6m9I66ueYA6SvxYSKTQIhAOlsZJmsXtWvQsOGI9%2FhOjiGqc3UAbWjrqGjNMyD5D6iKooECKH%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FwEQBRoMNDQ5MjI5MDMyODIyIgyqbQvWEmVAX8je2agq3gOtrviayojtSDwVjIR92kmkXtNqiK6AlyqM9INSJ6KtJhddfPCk6z4SnXyO6KHDJTHT2g5WW15ZeDTQoEjgAoXV134w3od1diZB7SWUyzoTp6%2BjhvRoo2Nd5vB8MigMnnF7zl%2BE1OkBpBeRw72aqhtlMpZw5E5BYMgH3uoljzAFzcH1jSOi0keeSSInA8XznTy4WdOGRmhJjUxB5wP%2FOHQSlgWNMcEeD3ucFxiqfrsMRJmakZA8wgmLKRC6HijaPAgCqlR1h74GpCZGqNZRYCczMbpEEEVuzcOuT2CcK%2BLbys2p%2BXo3CA%2FC%2BhiysVAPEaI3ryCJf2g1ONB5y1FRn7vMHSRb9nnT7xTAnorfn%2Bg8dKYsNqnbrS4tZ3vtP3dSYruw9FD8YDH1HT%2FvAPXqmLT3qm1p4rRAQV5haolBTwwLFvAcQgvxVytvhLcOXKYkN2EXng4et8oeQmC3yeWK3gKxeXMRjKE1yQzUq9gpyZHWtp3BGQBs71vS81a9BWidXnhdWUPV41vaK8YcN8IzUjn%2Fva8Is66ROgX58Q6vamUja648%2BQ9fsnvLMru3eX839iW6sZSPjIDgbyI3o6hO2LELvv5UEqamOl7TihD0XxJ31MQVVcEmcs53z4%2Bj91CYMN3H7c8GOqQBJ7zIQ%2FjmnT4hmDriw%2F1%2F%2Bm68OgjJNBbzxoc4Z5lqFiTbtmKg7rcOtzp4td6Yw72gW%2BtW7U%2FM8xvOiIoNF%2BVhXGo08xBNXT3Z9l9zu%2FZVIdiCCF4Rpw6rMG2%2BMxcvpr80pM7o5urAKRNES8RJtUCrnuooEfuXn7YxK%2FTKEZd%2FaqtPCdOXjq7fLgvz7F6dLaVTKs6FbPQfup%2B8CZRrKjf7dgCvA5k%3D&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&response-content-disposition=inline%3Bfilename%3D%22companies_house_document.pdf%22&X-Amz-Signature=c27d33386860ebb3809d59a1dbe6becc0fce0597512b8076ab90b117675693bd</ref>
Twenty20 Capital stated they had reduced back-office costs to an industry-low of 8%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HCRG Care Group |url=https://twenty20capital.com/project/hcrg-care-group/ |access-date=2026-05-07 |website=Twenty 20 Capital |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Current contracts ==
=== Surrey === Virgin Care won a contract to provide community health services in Surrey from 2012 until 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nwsurreyccg.nhs.uk/what-we-do/WHoWeWorkWith/Pages/VirginCare.aspx|title=Virgin Care|website=North West Surrey Clinical Commissioning Group|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907131708/http://www.nwsurreyccg.nhs.uk/what-we-do/WHoWeWorkWith/Pages/VirginCare.aspx|archive-date=7 September 2014}}</ref> This includes the Jarvis Breast Centre in Guildford, which in October 2014 was subject to an investigation by North West Surrey Clinical Commissioning Group after 35 patients were not tested within two weeks of their GP referrals during April and July.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hsj.co.uk/hsj-local/ccgs/nhs-north-west-surrey-ccg/virgin-clinic-probed-over-large-number-of-waiting-time-breaches/5076147.article|title=Virgin clinic probed over 'large number' of waiting time breaches|author=Sophie Barnes|date=27 October 2014|access-date=14 November 2018|publisher=Health Service Journal|archive-date=25 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025190037/https://www.hsj.co.uk/hsj-local/ccgs/nhs-north-west-surrey-ccg/virgin-clinic-probed-over-large-number-of-waiting-time-breaches/5076147.article|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2017, Surrey's CCGs split the contract again and procured elements of it separately, with Virgin Care awarded some adult community services in the Surrey Heath CCG and North East Hampshire and Farnham CCG areas, as well as continuing to operate community dental services and wheelchair services.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hsj.co.uk/community-services/virgin-agrees-contract-extension-in-surrey/7021810.article|date=1 March 2018|title=Virgin agrees contract extension in Surrey|last=Moore|first=Alison|website=Health Service Journal|language=en|access-date=2019-09-29|archive-date=30 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730194527/https://www.hsj.co.uk/community-services/virgin-agrees-contract-extension-in-surrey/7021810.article|url-status=live}}</ref>
In September 2019, the company was awarded an £85m contract to run a joint project with Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hsj.co.uk/nhs-surrey-heath-ccg/virgin-care-and-nhs-partner-win-85m-contract/7025979.article|title=Virgin Care and NHS partner win £85m contract|date=20 September 2019|last=Clover|first=Ben|website=Health Service Journal|language=en|access-date=2019-09-29|archive-date=1 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201090137/https://www.hsj.co.uk/nhs-surrey-heath-ccg/virgin-care-and-nhs-partner-win-85m-contract/7025979.article|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.laingbuissonnews.com/healthcare-markets-content/news-healthcare-markets-content/virgin-care-wins-85m-joint-community-services-project-with-nhs-trust/|title=Virgin Care wins £85m joint community services project with NHS Trust|website=Laing Buisson|date=23 September 2019 |language=en|access-date=2020-06-01|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420065212/https://www.laingbuissonnews.com/healthcare-markets-content/news-healthcare-markets-content/virgin-care-wins-85m-joint-community-services-project-with-nhs-trust/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://virgincare.co.uk/news/new-adult-community-service-contract-goes-live-in-surrey/|title=New Adult Community Service contract goes live in Surrey|website=Virgin Care|language=en|access-date=2020-06-01}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
In 2024, Surrey Heartlands ICB and Surrey County Council awarded HCRG a contract to deliver children's services. This was the same services which, as Virgin Care, the company had lost in a procurement process and subsequently taken legal action over.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Change of provider of Surrey children's community health services |url=https://surreyeducationservices.surreycc.gov.uk/Article/167789 |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=surreyeducationservices.surreycc.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref>
=== Bath and North East Somerset === The company won a seven-year £700m prime provider contract to run health services in Bath and North East Somerset in 2016.<ref name="bathchron-20161110">{{cite news|url=https://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/news/health/virgin-care-wins-700m-contract-223150|title=Virgin Care wins £700m contract to run health services in Bath and North East Somerset|author=Amanda Cameron|date=10 November 2016|newspaper=Bath Chronicle|access-date=14 November 2018|archive-date=14 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114224255/https://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/news/health/virgin-care-wins-700m-contract-223150|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/virgin-care-contract-approved-social-care-nhs-privatisation-a7411386.html|title=Controversial 'Virgin Care' contract approved|author=Ashley Cowburn|date=11 November 2016|newspaper=The Independent|access-date=14 November 2018|archive-date=14 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114232905/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/virgin-care-contract-approved-social-care-nhs-privatisation-a7411386.html|url-status=live}}</ref> This included running adult social work services, something that had not been done by a commercial organisation in the UK before. Forty-three social workers were transferred to the company.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.communitycare.co.uk/2017/04/26/social-workers-transferred-virgin-care-landmark-deal/|title=Social workers transferred to Virgin Care under landmark deal|author=Alex Turner|date=26 April 2017|access-date=14 November 2018|publisher=Community Care|archive-date=25 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025150017/http://www.communitycare.co.uk/2017/04/26/social-workers-transferred-virgin-care-landmark-deal/|url-status=live}}</ref> The service experienced significant IT issues during its first three months of operation which resulted in the cancellation of patient appointments, correspondence not being sent out and problems with updating patient records.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/local-news/virgin-care-asked-staff-not-589270|title=Virgin Care 'asked staff not to report safety concerns' to health watchdog|author1=Amanda Cameron|date=6 October 2017|newspaper=Bristol Post|access-date=14 November 2018|author2=Tristan Cork|archive-date=25 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025225536/https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/local-news/virgin-care-asked-staff-not-589270|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2021, as a result of this contract, the company's managing director was noted to have been given a seat on the BSW Partnership Board.<ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|date=28 May 2021|title=Partnership Board Agenda|url=https://bswpartnership.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/BSW-Partnership-Board-meeting-28-May-2021-combined-papers.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602114810/https://bswpartnership.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/BSW-Partnership-Board-meeting-28-May-2021-combined-papers.pdf|archive-date=2 June 2021|website=Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Partnership|page=2|via=Internet Archive}}</ref>
In that year, the services provided were reported to include two community hospitals, outpatients' clinics, and school nursing and immunisation services.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|date=2021-11-09|title=Health chiefs set to consider renewing £54m a year Virgin Care contract|url=https://www.bathecho.co.uk/news/health/health-chiefs-consider-renewing-54m-virgin-contract-96413/|access-date=2021-11-10|website=Bath Echo|language=en-GB|archive-date=11 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111095754/https://www.bathecho.co.uk/news/health/health-chiefs-consider-renewing-54m-virgin-contract-96413/|url-status=live}}</ref> The organisation's contract was extended to 2027, taking it to the full 10-year term, at a slightly reduced £54.5m as a result of two services being brought back in-house. Councillor Rob Appleyard told a scrutiny panel meeting that awarding the contract was "not universally accepted" and there was "continual distrust", but "Covid was the making of the relationship with Virgin Care".<ref>{{cite web|last=Sumner|first=Stephen|date=11 November 2021|title=Virgin Care secures three-year extension for health services in BANES costing £54m a year|url=https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/virgin-care-secures-three-year-6194908|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112105239/https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/virgin-care-secures-three-year-6194908|archive-date=12 November 2021|website=SomersetLive|via=Internet Archive}}</ref>
In 2024, its contracts to deliver public health services for children and families was renewed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HCRG Care Group picked to continue Bath and North East Somerset child and family services until 2031 |url=https://www.hcrgcaregroup.com/news-and-blogs/hcrg-care-group-picked-to-continue-bath-and-north-east-somerset-child-and-family-services-until-2031/ |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=HCRG Care|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=HCRG Care Group awarded contract to provide school-aged immunisation programme in BaNES, Swindon and Wiltshire |url=https://www.hcrgcaregroup.com/news-and-blogs/hcrg-care-group-awarded-contract-to-provide-school-aged-immunisation-programme-in-banes-swindon-and-wiltshire/ |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=HCRG Care |language=en-GB}}</ref>
In 2025, the company was awarded a new contract seeing it delivering many of its existing services, as well as expanding its footprint delivering community services across the BSW ICB area.<ref>{{cite web |last=Talora |first=Joe |date=2024-10-15 |title=Private provider takes over NHS services worth £1.3bn |url=https://www.hsj.co.uk/bath-and-north-east-somerset-swindon-and-wiltshire-ics/private-provider-takes-over-nhs-services-worth-13bn/7037994.article |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=Health Service Journal }}</ref>
=== Lancashire === In 2016, the company won a five-year contract from West Lancashire CCG to provide adult community health services and urgent care services across the area. Commissioners said that the contract would lead to more "joined up" care.<ref>{{cite news|date=23 November 2016|title=National Health Executive|url=https://www.nationalhealthexecutive.com/News/virgin-care-wins-contracts-worth-65m-in-lancashire|access-date=24 July 2021|archive-date=24 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724103607/https://www.nationalhealthexecutive.com/News/virgin-care-wins-contracts-worth-65m-in-lancashire|url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2021, the service was rated good by the CQC in its first inspection.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bickerstaffe House|url=https://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-5763276762|access-date=2021-07-24|website=www.cqc.org.uk|archive-date=25 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725140450/https://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-5763276762|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2018, Lancashire County Council awarded a £104m contract to provide public health services for children aged 0 to 19 following a re-evaluation of bids after a high court decision that the council had not followed the proper procurement process. In May 2025, the council awarded a further five-year contract to HCRG Care Group to continue delivering the services.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HCRG Care Group secures five-year contract to deliver Lancashire 0-19 services |url=https://www.hcrgcaregroup.com/news-and-blogs/hcrg-care-group-secures-five-year-contract-to-deliver-lancashire-0-19-services/ |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=HCRG Care Limited, trading as HCRG Care Group |language=en-GB}}</ref>
=== Kent === Community services in part of Kent, previously provided by Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust, were transferred to Virgin Care by Swale CCG and Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley CCG in January 2016 in a contract worth £18 million a year for the seven years from April 2016, with an option to extend by a further three years.<ref>{{cite news|author=John Nurden|title=Virgin Care takes over Sheppey and Sittingbourne hospitals|url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/sheerness/news/virgin-care-takes-over-sittingbourne-sheppey-hospitals-49143/|access-date=14 November 2018|publisher=Kent on line|date=13 January 2016|archive-date=14 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114230002/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/sheerness/news/virgin-care-takes-over-sittingbourne-sheppey-hospitals-49143/|url-status=live}}</ref>
During 2025 Kent and Medway ICB undertook a public procurement of community services. The contract was awarded to Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust as lead provider in a partnership between themselves, HCRG Care Group and Medway Community Healthcare. HCRG Care Group is sub-contracted for this contract and, as part of this, continues to be the main provider of services in Dartford, Gravesham, Swanley and Swale. The contract will run for at least five years with an option to extend by up to three years.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=81928 |website=Medway Council |publisher=Medway Council |access-date=17 April 2026}}</ref>
=== Slough === Slough Borough Council awarded HCRG Care Group a contract to deliver its public health services for children and families in 2024. The contract length and value were not stated.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leary |first=Gemma |title=HCRG Care Group awarded new contract to deliver the Healthy Child Programme |url=https://www.slough.gov.uk/news/article/407/hcrg-care-group-awarded-new-contract-to-deliver-the-healthy-child-programme |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=Slough Borough Council |language=en}}</ref>
=== Wiltshire === The company was commissioned by Wiltshire Council in 2016 to provide health services for infants and children aged 0 to 19, as well as support for mothers aged 19 and under, and parenting programmes. In 2023, the contract was renewed until at least 2029.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 October 2023 |title=HCRG Care Group awarded new contract to continue supporting families across Wiltshire |url=https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/news/hcrg-care-group-awarded-new-contract-to-continue-supporting-families-across-wiltshire |access-date=2026-05-06 |website=Wiltshire Council |language=en}}</ref>
==Former contracts==
=== Lyme Regis medical practice === In 2012, Virgin Care won a contract to provide services in Dorset, at the Lyme Regis Centre, for five years.<ref>{{cite journal |date=26 September 2012 |title=Virgin Care wins medical centre contract |url=https://www.hsj.co.uk/dorset-pct/virgin-care-wins-medical-centre-contract/5049900.article |url-status=live |journal=Health Service Journal |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025150151/https://www.hsj.co.uk/dorset-pct/virgin-care-wins-medical-centre-contract/5049900.article |archive-date=25 October 2018 |access-date=14 November 2018}}</ref> When the service was inspected by the regulator in August 2015, the minor injuries unit was found 'not safe' by the Care Quality Commission because "patients were at risk of harm because systems and processes were not in place to keep them safe". Inspectors returned in February 2016 and found improvements, and in August 2016 a desk-based inspection based on information from the company rated the practice 'good' in all areas. The service was rated 'good' again by the CQC in October 2018, but inspectors said it needed to do more and rated it 'requires improvement' for services for people with long term conditions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lyme Regis Medical Centre |url=https://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-1051403692 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929190201/https://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-1051403692 |archive-date=29 September 2019 |access-date=2019-09-29 |website=www.cqc.org.uk}}</ref> The contract ended in 2019 after a short extension, when the NHS merged it with another local GP practice.<ref>{{cite web |title=The care provider contract for this medical centre is set to end in January |url=https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/17277269.contract-for-care-provider-for-lyme-regis-medical-centre-is-about-to-expire/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929190243/https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/17277269.contract-for-care-provider-for-lyme-regis-medical-centre-is-about-to-expire/ |archive-date=29 September 2019 |access-date=2019-09-29 |website=Dorset Echo |language=en}}</ref>
=== Croydon urgent care centre === Virgin Care ran the urgent care centre at Croydon University Hospital under a £6 million contract for three years from April 2012.<ref>{{cite web |date=21 November 2013 |title=Watchdog demands urgent meeting with Virgin over Mayday |url=http://insidecroydon.com/2013/11/21/watchdog-demands-urgent-meeting-with-virgin-over-mayday/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025190042/https://insidecroydon.com/2013/11/21/watchdog-demands-urgent-meeting-with-virgin-over-mayday/ |archive-date=25 October 2018 |access-date=14 November 2018 |website=insidecroydon.com}}</ref>
=== East Staffordshire === The company won a seven-year contract worth £270 million for providing long-term and elderly care for about 38,000 people with long-term health conditions in East Staffordshire in March 2015, known as the "Improving Lives" programme.<ref>{{cite web |title=Improving Lives - NHS East Staffordshire Clinical Commissioning Group |url=https://eaststaffsccg.nhs.uk/improving-lives |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416203008/https://eaststaffsccg.nhs.uk/improving-lives |archive-date=16 April 2021 |access-date=2021-01-12 |website=eaststaffsccg.nhs.uk}}</ref> A report by the Care Quality Commission published in October 2019 rated the service 'good'.<ref>{{cite web |title=Anglesey House |url=https://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-3645123538#accordion-1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129181746/https://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-3645123538#accordion-1 |archive-date=29 November 2020 |access-date=2021-01-12 |website=www.cqc.org.uk}}</ref> Virgin Care terminated its role as prime provider in October 2018 after an 18-month-long dispute<ref>{{cite news |author=Rebecca Thomas |date=31 March 2015 |title=Virgin Care terminates £270m prime provider role |url=https://www.hsj.co.uk/finance-and-efficiency/virgin-care-terminates-270m-prime-provider-role/7023486.article |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114224435/https://www.hsj.co.uk/finance-and-efficiency/virgin-care-terminates-270m-prime-provider-role/7023486.article |archive-date=14 November 2018 |access-date=14 November 2018 |publisher=Health Service Journal}}</ref> and went on to terminate the remaining part of the contract in May 2019.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-05-01 |title=Virgin Care ends Staffordshire health contract over cost |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-48121572 |access-date=2021-01-12 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> ==Legal cases== *In October 2012, a mother of two children mounted a challenge in the High Court against Devon County Council's decision to award health and social care contracts to Virgin Care.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/oct/07/mother-virgin-care-mental-health|location=London|work=The Guardian|author=Diane Taylor|title=Mother challenges Virgin Care takeover of mental health service|date=7 October 2012|access-date=14 November 2018|archive-date=25 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025150232/https://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/oct/07/mother-virgin-care-mental-health|url-status=live}}</ref> The court allowed Virgin Care to keep the contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.publiclawtoday.co.uk/local-government/child-protection/309-childrens-services-articles/12074-judge-says-virgin-care-outsourcing-did-not-comply-with-law-but-refuses-to-stop-award|title=Judge says Virgin Care award did not comply with law but refuses to halt process|date=19 October 2012|website=Public Law Today|access-date=7 January 2018|archive-date=8 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108063429/http://www.publiclawtoday.co.uk/local-government/child-protection/309-childrens-services-articles/12074-judge-says-virgin-care-outsourcing-did-not-comply-with-law-but-refuses-to-stop-award|url-status=live}}</ref>
*In early 2017, Virgin Care began legal proceedings against NHS England, Surrey County Council and the county's six clinical commissioning groups, claiming there were defects in the procurement process which led to another provider winning an £82 million three-year children's community services contract.<ref>{{cite news|author=Chris Morris|url=https://healthcaretimes.co.uk/virgin-care-to-sue-nhs-over-childrens-community-services-contract/|location=Derby|work=Healthcare Times|title=Virgin Care to Sue NHS Over Children's Community Services Contract|date=14 March 2017|access-date=14 November 2018|archive-date=13 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113022913/https://healthcaretimes.co.uk/virgin-care-to-sue-nhs-over-childrens-community-services-contract/|url-status=live}}</ref> The lawsuit was settled out of court with a £328,000 payment to Virgin Care, resulting in some controversy. This included a petition signed by over 100,000 people addressed to Richard Branson and Virgin Care, demanding that they "return the NHS's money, and never sue the NHS again", as well as criticism in Parliament from Shadow Health Secretary Jonathon Ashworth, who claimed that the NHS is already "underfunded" without having to make payments to private health companies.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/the-nhs-under-severe-financial-14011956|location=Surrey|work=getSurrey|title='The NHS is under severe financial pressure, it cannot afford to lose this money': Nearly 50,000 people urge Virgin Care to return £328,000 Surrey contract dispute payout|author=Isabel Dobinson|date=8 December 2017|access-date=14 November 2018|archive-date=6 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106153804/https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/the-nhs-under-severe-financial-14011956|url-status=live}}</ref> Virgin Care stated that the money would be invested in services, rather than paid out to Virgin Group or Richard Branson.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=1 June 2019|title=Why it's wrong to say we sued the NHS because we lost a contract in Surrey|url=https://virgincare.co.uk/blog/why-its-wrong-to-say-we-sued-the-nhs-because-we-lost-a-contract-in-surrey/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411000643/https://virgincare.co.uk/blog/why-its-wrong-to-say-we-sued-the-nhs-because-we-lost-a-contract-in-surrey/|archive-date=11 April 2021|website=Virgin Care|via=Internet Archive}}</ref><!-- Blacklisted: <ref>{{cite news|url=Blacklisted:wwwDOTthelondoneconomicDOTcom/trending/jeremy-hunt-must-fix-scandal-100m-virgins-coffers-go-nhs-patient-care-ashworth/19/12/|location=London|work=The London Economic|title="Jeremy Hunt must fix this scandal – the £100m for Virgin's coffers should go to NHS Patient care." Jonathan Ashworth|author=Benjamin Jenkins|date=19 December 2012|access-date=14 November 2018}}</ref> -->
*Lancashire County Council (LCC) planned to award Virgin Care a five-year £104m contract in 2017 to provide public health services for children aged 0 to 19. Two Lancashire-area NHS Trusts,{{efn|Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust and Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust}} who were the incumbent service providers, had jointly bid for the contract. They contested the decision to award a contract to Virgin Care on the grounds that the Council had not properly followed the procurement process. The High Court upheld the Trusts' concern and concluded that the procurement decision should be set aside.<ref>Daly, A., [https://www.hempsons.co.uk/news-articles/3187190/ Have the lessons from Lancashire Care NHS FT & Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS FT v Lancashire County Council been learnt?], ''Hempsons LLP'', published 22 May 2019, accessed 31 July 2023</ref> In 2018, after LCC had re-evaluated the bids, in a process overseen by an independent panel of experts, it again chose Virgin Care. The decision was criticised by UNISON on the grounds that it would destabilise the NHS in Lancashire, that the gap between the two bids was only 0.07%, and that the council was helping to privatise the delivery of key NHS services.<ref>{{cite web|date=18 October 2018|title=Council strips contract from NHS trusts and hands it to Virgin after High Court row|url=http://www.nationalhealthexecutive.com/Health-Care-News/council-strips-contract-from-nhs-trusts-and-hands-it-to-virgin-after-high-court-row|access-date=7 June 2020|website=National Health Executive|archive-date=7 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607194141/http://www.nationalhealthexecutive.com/Health-Care-News/council-strips-contract-from-nhs-trusts-and-hands-it-to-virgin-after-high-court-row|url-status=live}}</ref>
==See also== *Private healthcare in the United Kingdom
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{official website|https://www.hcrgcaregroup.com/}}
{{Virgin Group}}
Care Category:British companies established in 2010 Category:Health care companies established in 2010 Category:2021 mergers and acquisitions Category:Health care companies of the United Kingdom Category:Private providers of NHS services