Vhi notifies Competition and Consumer Protection Commission of Proposal to acquire sole control of Vhi SwiftCare Clinics

1st February 2017 – Vhi today notified the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) of its proposal to acquire sole control of the Vhi SwiftCare Clinics.

The Vhi SwiftCare Clinics, Ireland’s first urgent care clinics, were established in 2005 as a joint venture between Vhi and Centric Health.  Today Vhi announced that it plans to acquire Centric Health’s interest in the Vhi SwiftCare Clinics, subject to the approval of the CCPC.

Declan Moran, Director of Marketing and Business Development said “Vhi has worked successfully with Centric Health for the last 11 years and together we built and grew the Vhi Swiftcare Clinics which were the first of their kind in Ireland. Both organisations identified a need to provide a service which complemented the traditional A&E services and primary care facilities and saw that there was a natural synergy in working together.   Now treating over 75,000 patients for urgent care injuries annually, the Vhi SwiftCare Clinics have gone from strength to strength and delivered meaningful innovation and value to the patients that they have treated.”

He continued “We believe that the Vhi SwiftCare Clinics have significant further potential and are a key element of Vhi’s overall diversified products and services strategy which is why we are seeking to acquire sole control of the business.”

Commenting on the proposed transaction, Dr Maurice Cox, CEO of Centric Health said “We have enjoyed a great partnership with Vhi over the past 11 years working together to bring this new model of quality care to the Irish market. The time is now right for us to focus on the development of our core primary care services and this transaction will help us to accelerate our growth in it.  We thank the dedicated team in the Vhi SwiftCare Clinics for their commitment to patients and hard work over the last 11 years and wish them, and Vhi, every success for the future.”

Vhi SwiftCare Clinics are Ireland’s first walk-in, urgent care clinics, providing rapid assessment, treatment and advice for patients with a range of minor injuries and illnesses.  The Clinics in Balally, Swords and Cork are open 365 days a year from 8am to 10pm.  The Vhi SwiftCare Clinics can be contacted on 1890 866 966 and further information on the Clinics is available on  www.vhi.ie/swiftcare.

ENDS

Vhi_Press

01-Feb-2017