Spire Healthcare sees low-end profit amid NHS commissioning slowdown
Spire Healthcare Group PLC on Wednesday warned the recent slowdown in NHS commissioning activity would dent full-year profits.
In response, shares in the London-based private healthcare provider slumped 14% to 191.80 pence each in London on Wednesday morning.
Spire said trading has been ‘positive’ since interim results in July, with revenue growth of 3.6% on-year in the four-months from July to October.
But while self-pay trends have continued to improve, this has not been sufficient to offset the recent slowdown in NHS commissioning activity, due to Integrated Care Board budgetary restrictions.
As a result, the firm expects full-year adjusted group earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation to be around the bottom end of the £270 million to £285 million guidance range.
For financial 2026, Spire expects adjusted Ebitda to be ‘broadly in line or slightly ahead of 2025.’
In 2024, Spire reported adjusted Ebitda of £260 million, up 11% from £234.0 million in 2023.
‘Looking further ahead, we would naturally expect this market environment to lead to further growth in private patient volumes and we remain confident in the medium-term outlook,’ the firm added.
Spire said it continues to evaluate actions that could ‘drive long-term sustainable shareholder value’.
The strategic review, which was announced in September, ‘remains ongoing’.
Spire said it has started talks with ‘a number of parties in relation to a range of potential options’, which may include a potential sale of the company, value generation from the Hospital property estate and increased strategic focus on private payors.
In addition, Spire announced an 18-month extension to the maturity of its existing banking facilities of £425 million to August 2028 at unchanged terms.
The facility still comprises a term loan of £325 million and a £100 million revolving credit facility with the same syndicate of lenders.
Spire said its transformation programme is on track to deliver £30 million of new savings during the financial year, with more savings to come in 2026.
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