The largest private hospital in Kent has secured a major new investor which is splashing out £140million to grow its UK business.

KIMS Hospital in Maidstone, has today confirmed LycaHealth has become its new majority shareholder.

The precise amount being put into the hospital has not been disclosed as it is "commercially sensitive" - however the figure is thought to be sizeable.

LycaHealth already has medical centres in Orpington and Canary Wharf.

KIMS, sited just off Junction 7 of the M20, also runs the Sevenoaks Medical Centre, which it acquired in 2020. It will also benefit from the funding.

LycaHealth was founded in 2015 by Prema Subaskaran, who serves as chair.

She explains: "We strongly believe that if we’re to give people access to truly high quality and rapid medical care in the UK, then the private sector should work hand-in-hand with the NHS. Our investment in KIMS Hospital is a step towards us achieving our long-term goal to provide a complete pathway from diagnosis through to treatment and aftercare for those patients that require it.

"Working with the KIMS team, we’ll be able to improve access to tech and strengthen the facilities on offer that ultimately improve each patient’s individual route to care, providing the best affordable healthcare for the local community.”

KIMS chief executive Simon James added: “With the support and backing of LycaHealth, we have an excellent opportunity to build on our success to date. As the largest independent hospital in Kent, we play a critical role supporting the local community, both as a provider of outstanding healthcare and as a local employer, with over 400 employees."

LycaHealth, is part of the Lyca Group, which has a portfolio across a range of sectors including telecommunications, entertainment, travel and tourism, healthcare, media, technology, financial services, marketing and hospitality.

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