Nuffield Hospitals has acquired a 100% share in the capital of Cannons Health & Fitness.

Nuffield Hospitals, the UK’s largest not-for-profit independent healthcare provider, will now serve the health and fitness needs of 300,000 people in over 170 locations following its acquisition of 100% of the share capital of Health Club Investments Group Limited, parent company of Cannons Health & Fitness.

The acquisition, which happened on 30 November, will result in a combined turnover of around £600 million (2006 figures).

David Mobbs, Chief Executive of Nuffield Hospitals Group, said: “This is a very exciting moment for Nuffield Hospitals. We are fast becoming a broad-based health group, able to serve a wide range of the public’s health needs in addition to operating our excellent hospitals. This acquisition will allow us to bring more services to more people.

“We believe that people want to take a more active role in maintaining and promoting their own health. They have an increasingly sophisticated view of what services they want to help them stay fit and healthy as well as to look after them when there are problems. We are responding to that by providing the services people want, delivered where and when they want them.”

Arnu Misra, Chief Executive of Cannons, is looking forward to the future following the acquisition. She said: “We are very excited by Nuffield’s vision of a broader-based health and fitness proposition. Our colleagues and members can look forward to a bright, secure and exciting future under the Nuffield umbrella.”

According to Nuffield Hospitals, members of Cannons gyms will continue to have access to the service that they are used to, and will also benefit from additional health services that the Nuffield Group plans to introduce over time.