Not-for-profit healthcare organisation Nuffield Health has today (5 August) announced the acquisition of nine Virgin Active health clubs.

The new gyms will increase Nuffield Health’s footprint throughout the UK, taking Nuffield Health’s overall membership rises to over 325,000, across 74 consumer gyms and 202 corporate fitness and wellbeing sites.

“These acquisitions are an important step towards achieving Nuffield Health’s ambition of a national network of fitness and wellbeing facilities,” said Dr Andrew Jones, MD of Nuffield Health Wellbeing.

“The locations of the gyms allow us to either reach parts of the country that we do not have a presence in, or to complement our current offering in the area, whether that be a hospital or corporate wellbeing facility.

“This will enable us to deliver healthcare across the UK and by combining services and experts at our co-located facilities, support more local people with an integrated health and wellbeing proposition.”

By introducing new services including a free Health MOT – a comprehensive 60-minute assessment of vitals and fitness capacity/goals – for every member and access to wellbeing experts, Nuffield Health plans to “enhance the gym experience” and work with members to help them achieve their fitness goals.

The purchase of the Manchester Printworks Virgin Active Health Club is particularly significant, as earlier this month, Nuffield Health announced a strategic partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University to improve health in the North West of England. The partnership will see a new hospital and wellbeing centre built in central Manchester. The two parties will collaborate on research and development, training for local healthcare professionals and fitness, wellbeing and sickness prevention.

Locations of the new clubs

Birmingham Broadway PlazaGloucester Barnwood

GuildfordIlford

Milton KeynesManchester Printworks

TauntonTunbridge Wells

Wolverhampton

An exclusive interview with Dr Andrew Jones on Nuffield’s expansion plans can be read in the May edition of Health Club Management magazine, pp. 34-38.