The Birmingham-based health and wellbeing group, BHSF, has announced the acquisition of The Newhall Medical Practice Limited from 27 May 2016. This is the seventh such purchase by BHSF since 2012 as it seeks to grow its occupational health (OH) division to provide nationwide coverage.

BHSF can trace its roots back to the formation of the Birmingham Hospital Saturday Fund in 1873. In addition to OH, the group consists of a health insurer and an insurance brokerage which offers a range of personal insurances, employee benefits and HR support services to the group’s 3,000 client organisations. 400,000 people are covered under BHSF’s health and personal accident insurances.

Newhall provides high-quality occupational health and other medical services and it also has a private GP service and a travel clinic at its premises in Cornwall Buildings, Newhall Street, Birmingham.

Newhall is headed by its founder, Dr Bryan Fehilly, who will be remaining with the business.

BHSF Group chief executive, Peter Maskell said “We are very pleased to have acquired such a successful business which will strengthen our OH proposition and give us greater presence in the marketplace. Initially Newhall will be a subsidiary of BHSF Occupational Health Limited, which is headed by MD Dr Philip McCrea.

“We are looking to acquire further suitable businesses in order to achieve a truly nationwide OH service. We are well known amongst HR professionals for our not-for-profit ethos, straight-talking, high quality and outstanding value for money.”

No redundancies are expected to arise in either company as a result of this deal. In fact, it is believed that expansion opportunities should bring the potential for growth in employee numbers.