A Year of Progress: Reflections from Our Executive Chairman, Gwam Rajiah.
Over the past 12 months, following the full acquisition of First Trust Hospital, I have often been asked why I chose to invest in a new medical and surgical facility during one of the most challenging periods the healthcare sector has faced. My answer remains simple: I saw a unique opportunity to create a pioneering model of fully integrated healthcare within the community.
As an independent healthcare entrepreneur, I have always been driven by the belief that healthcare can and should be delivered differently. My ambition has never been simply to purchase a hospital, but to help reshape the local healthcare landscape by creating accessible, high-quality services closer to where people live. This vision has always been rooted in practical delivery rather than aspiration alone, achieved through collaboration with NHS Trusts, commissioners, clinicians, and, most importantly, the communities we serve.
When we acquired First Trust Hospital, it was predominantly recognised as a provider of cosmetic procedures. However, I believed the organisation possessed the infrastructure, location, and clinical potential to become something far more significant: a regional centre for community-based specialist healthcare.
Twelve months later, the scale of the transformation has exceeded our original expectations.
We have successfully recruited nearly 40 consultant specialists across a wide range of disciplines, including Cardiology, Dermatology, Gynaecology, Neurology, Ophthalmology, Gastroenterology, Urology, and General Surgery. This represents one of the most significant expansions of specialist medical expertise within the independent sector locally and has created a comprehensive multidisciplinary environment capable of supporting both routine and complex patient pathways.
Alongside this growth in clinical expertise, we have invested significantly in diagnostic capability, creating a fully integrated diagnostic platform incorporating CT Coronary Angiography (CTCA), MRI, Ultrasound, Echocardiography, Physiological Measurement services, and advanced outpatient diagnostics. This investment has dramatically improved our ability to support earlier diagnosis, faster clinical decision-making, and more streamlined patient journeys.
Although we are an independent hospital, a significant proportion of the care we provide is delivered in partnership with the NHS. Through close collaboration with local NHS Trusts and commissioners, patients referred through NHS pathways are able to access specialist consultations, diagnostics and treatment within our hospital, helping to reduce waiting times while maintaining continuity of care. This integrated model gives patients greater choice over where they receive their treatment, while ensuring that high-quality healthcare remains accessible within their local community.
Beyond expanding clinical services, we have also taken an important step in supporting the future of healthcare by partnering with the University of Lancashire to provide clinical training for medical students. As Preston’s only independent hospital actively training medical students, we are proud to complement NHS education by giving future doctors exposure to high-quality patient care within an independent healthcare setting. This partnership reflects our commitment not only to delivering excellent healthcare today, but also to helping develop the next generation of medical professionals.
Over the past year we have:
- Expanded from a predominantly single-specialty cosmetic facility to a multi-specialty medical and surgical centre.
- Recruited almost 40 consultant specialists across multiple disciplines.
- Increased outpatient consultation capacity by more than 180%.
- Delivered over 10,500 outpatient appointments.
- Performed more than 10,750 diagnostic investigations, including MRI, CT, Ultrasound and cardiac diagnostics.
- Undertaken 1500 surgical and procedural interventions across multiple specialties.
- Created 28 new clinical and non-clinical jobs, strengthening the local healthcare workforce.
- Developed collaborative pathways with NHS Trusts and commissioning organisations to support patient access and reduce pressure on acute hospital services.
Most importantly, patients who may previously have travelled significant distances or faced prolonged waiting times now have access to high-quality specialist care within their own community. This supports one of the most important objectives facing healthcare systems today: delivering the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
The speed of this transformation has only been possible because of the remarkable commitment of our clinicians, nurses, allied health professionals, support staff, healthcare partners, local NHS Trusts and commissioners. Together, we have demonstrated what can be achieved when there is a shared commitment to innovation, collaboration and patient-centred care.
Looking ahead, the next phase of our strategy is even more ambitious. Our objective is not simply to grow the hospital, but to establish First Trust Hospital as a leading integrated healthcare campus that complements NHS provision, supports population health management, reduces demand on acute services and delivers measurable improvements in patient outcomes.
We are exploring further expansion in areas such as community diagnostics, specialist ambulatory care, preventative health services, chronic disease management, elective surgery pathways and digital healthcare solutions. These developments will continue to strengthen our role as a trusted healthcare partner and a key contributor to the region’s health economy.
As I reflect on the achievements of the last 12 months, I am immensely proud of how far we have come. Yet I firmly believe that this represents only the foundation of a much bigger vision. The first year has been about transformation; the years ahead will be about scale, sustainability and long-term impact.
What we have achieved demonstrates that independent healthcare providers, working collaboratively with the NHS, universities and local communities, can play a vital role in shaping a modern, integrated healthcare system. By combining NHS and independent healthcare services, investing in advanced diagnostics, training the next generation of doctors through our partnership with the University of Lancashire, and continually expanding specialist services, we are creating a healthcare model that puts patients first. The foundations are now firmly in place, and I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead.
Gwam C Rajiah
Executive Chairman – Bespoke Healthcare, Greater Lancashire Hospital
Honorary Senior Lecturer at
University Lancashire School of Medicine and Dentistry