Our HCA story
The history of HCA Healthcare in the UK and how we approach providing leading healthcare services
“Above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life”
Dr Thomas Frist founded HCA (Hospital Corporation of America) in 1968, with a vision of creating a healthcare company with the scope, resources and expertise to provide the highest possible standard of care.
At HCA UK today, we maintain this vision, and encourage each individual to participate in developing our healthcare offering for our patients. Celebrating and commending individuals who work for us is a longstanding tradition of HCA Healthcare and through our Awards of Distinction we recognise individuals for their exceptional commitment to their community, our patients, and our organisation.
There are three categories of awards:
1. The Frist Humanitarian Award: honouring outstanding individuals for humanitarian and volunteer activities. In the two categories for this award, you can nominate an HCA colleague and an HCA UK employed doctor.
2. Excellence in Nursing Award: recognises nurses who excel in the two categories of compassionate care and professional mentoring.
3. Innovators Award: an individual who advances our organisation’s mission through innovation.
Facility leadership teams select winners for each award - two individuals for the Frist Humanitarian Award (one employee and one employed doctor), two nurses for the Excellence in Nursing Award (in the categories of Compassionate Care and Professional Mentoring) and one individual for the Innovators Award. These winners then go into a national judging process and the five UK divisional winners represent HCA UK at the enterprise level judging in at HCA Healthcare in Nashville, Tennessee.
“I felt that I was getting the best that I could get.”
50 years of outstanding care
Now, with nearly 300 hospitals across the US and UK, 240,000 nurses and 37,000 doctors, HCA is the world’s largest private hospital group. We learn from every one of our 27 million patient encounters each year, helping to ensure that we deliver the outstanding care that we would want for our own family to each and every individual patient.
Investing in world leading healthcare for the UK
Since HCA UK opened its doors in 1995 we have built a world class network of over 30 facilities in London and Manchester, each with the latest diagnostic and treatment equipment and facilities.
In 2017, we opened local satellite centres in Chiswick, Elstree, Marylebone and Chelsea, then in 2019 we opened a new outpatient and diagnostics centre spanning 3 floors of The Shard.
A larger private patient's facility, Private Care at Guy's has since been opened on the top floor of Guy's Cancer Centre in partnership with Guys & St Thomas’ Hospital. Our latest venture will be the opening of The Harborne Hospital in 2023 in partnership with the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.
Exceptional people, exceptional care
Great healthcare starts with compassion. We now have over 5,000 colleagues in the UK including over 3,300 skilled clinical professionals inclusive of nurses, allied health professionals and laboratory colleagues, all who care deeply about treating everyone with dignity, respect and fairness.
“From the nurses to the cleaners, porters, catering staff and pain management team, the quality of care, facilities and support were second to none, and everyone was rooting for me.”
Pushing the boundaries of learning
Over 3,000 consultant partners who provide the depth and breadth of care across our hospitals and clinics.
Many of our consultants carry out and publish research and are world renowned for their expertise in new methods and techniques for patient care – from complex neurosurgery to how genetics can improve outcomes for cancer patients.