HCA and The London Clinic leaders call for team effort to boost London as healthcare destination
A “team effort” between healthcare organisations in the Harley Street Health District is “essential” to attracting overseas patients to “jewel in London and the nation’s crown” and attracting larger share of a £15bn health tourism market, two senior healthcare leaders in the District have said.
Speaking on the launch episode of the District’s podcast, ‘In Conversation’, out this month, John Reay, President and Chief Executive of HCA Healthcare and Al Russell, Chief Executive of The London Clinic, emphasised the importance of collaboration and innovation in the District to drive its growth, including attracting a greater proportion of the overseas patient market.
Mr Reay explained that there was a great opportunity for the District as “attracting international medical tourists is a key part of Britain’s export market “and that people around the world “are more willing to travel further for excellence in healthcare”.
And Mr Russell said organisations in the District have a “real role to play” in attracting the UK’s “fair share” of the international medical tourism market, which he said has been estimated at being worth £15bn.
Their comments were made as part of the wider inaugural podcast episode looking at how the District is moving from a “Legacy to Leadership” position in the UK healthcare economy, alongside Mark Kildea, chief executive of The Howard de Walden Estate and host, Professor Jenny Shand of UCL.
The discussion emphasised the area’s importance to “nurturing innovation” that benefits the wider UK healthcare economy.
For example, Mr Reay said HCA’s Sarah Cannon Research Institute large phase one clinical trial capacity is “great for Britain plc” because it can offer faster turnarounds to pharma companies, helping to win contracts in the UK over competitors in the EU, which can also lead to faster NHS adoption of novel treatments.
And Mr Russell described how early investment in emerging technology, such as the adoption of the Da Vinci Robot for surgical procedures – which has just celebrated 20 years since it was first used at The London Clinic – means that doctors from “multiple teaching hospitals” get experience of new innovations, which “can really propagate” adoption across the country.
Mr Kildea said driving innovation is a key objective for the growth of the District, which he described as part of a “knowledge corridor” – an area spanning the capital between Paddington and Kings Cross that’s “dominated by health care, research, education, innovation and life sciences.”
He added that Howard de Walden is developing its support for HealthTech organisationc choosing to cluster in the District, helping them to get better access to healthcare providers and improved ability to attract and scale-up capital.
Howard de Walden recently reported that it had initially invested £25m in buildings for ‘health innovation and discovery’ in partnership with flexible workspace firm Spacemade. The investment has led to the initial opening of three buildings under the Hale House brand, providing 38,000 sq ft of purpose-designed space suitable for health tech start-ups, investors and venture capital firms.
Since then, Tandem Health and Ufonia have moved their headquarters to Hale House to join anchor occupier, health innovation organisation UCL Partners, Trem, Forte Medical and Theta Sleep have become the latest to join the growing Portland Place HealthTech community, and a partnership between the District and HealthTech specialist fund AlbionVC was unveiled this week.
And next year, the District team will be attending WHX Dubai from 9–12 February, showcasing the area’s credentials as a leading global hub for whole health and care innovation.
