Friends Medical Service

What Friends Medical Service does

Friends Medical Service is a privately held, multi-site private healthcare clinic headquartered in Lurgan, Northern Ireland, with two additional clinic locations in Limavady and Derry/Londonderry. Founded in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic to relieve ultrasound waiting lists at Health and Social Care (HSC) trusts, the business has grown into a multidisciplinary provider spanning roughly 30 services across four categories: GP services (consultations, blood testing, ECG, travel clinic, sexual health, medical reports), diagnostics (DEXA bone density, ultrasound with ultrasound-guided steroid injections, PRP therapy), specialist clinics (rheumatology, paediatric endocrinology, audiology, BACP-registered counselling, sleep analysis, sports medicine), and surgical services (no-scalpel vasectomy, minor outpatient procedures). Care delivery relies on state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging equipment, electronic health records, and an online booking layer via the Semble platform, with tele-reporting for partner organisations and home sleep-study kits extending reach beyond the physical clinics.

The company serves two principal customer sets in parallel: (i) self-paying individuals and families seeking faster access than the NHS, accessed through direct booking, GP subscription plans starting at £29.99/month, and accepted insurance; and (ii) institutional NHS/HSC partners under insourcing and framework agreements, alongside a smaller medico-legal reporting stream for solicitors and insurers. Pricing across consumer services is published and ranges from ~£45 for STI tests to £650 for PRP injection, with GP appointments tiered by length (£70/£105/£140). On the B2B side, Friends Medical is positioned on multiple UK public-sector frameworks, including the National Framework for Teleradiology (F/083/TSS/22/AB), NHS SBS Teleradiology, Health Trust Europe Total Workforce Solutions III, and a Wales framework for clinical/surgical/diagnostic procedures, providing contractual pathways to scale beyond Northern Ireland.

Operations are supported by 45+ healthcare professionals and 25 named consultants, with UKAS-accredited ISO 9001, ISO 27001 and ISO 14001 certifications at the Lurgan site. Specialty delivery is augmented through partnerships with Pendulum Physiotherapy, Blueberry Hearing, and Sleep Medical, and patient-reported satisfaction is high (99% NHS Friends & Family Test). Revenue, headcount granularity, and ownership structure are not publicly disclosed; the company appears founder/owner-operated with no institutional investors or parent entity identified in available materials.

Name

Friends Medical Service

Legal name

Friends Medical Service

Website

https://friendsmedicalservice.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Friends Medical Service is a Northern Ireland-based private healthcare clinic with three locations (Lurgan, Limavady, Derry/Londonderry) offering multidisciplinary GP services, diagnostics, specialist consultations, and minor surgery to self-pay patients and NHS/HSC trusts via insourcing, tele-reporting, and subscriptions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Healthcare Services

NAICS

Offices of Physicians (62111), Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists) (621111), Ambulatory Health Care Services (621)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAFAGAA

Independent Primary Care Practices

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Healthcare Providers & Systems/Primary Care & Community Health Providers

Keywords

• Private medical clinic
• GP appointment services
• Diagnostic imaging services
• NHS insourcing
• Specialist consultations

Headquarters

HQ city

Lurgan

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Private Patient Consultations and Procedures: Direct private payments from patients for GP appointments, specialist consultations, diagnostic scans, and surgical procedures. Fee-for-service model with transparent pricing for individual services.
2. GP Subscription Plans: Monthly subscription model (starting £29.99/month) providing prepaid GP appointments, discounts on services, and priority access. Individual and family plans available.
3. NHS Insourcing Contracts: Partnerships with NHS/HSC trusts providing integrated clinical pathway support including radiology, diagnostic imaging, and capacity expansion services under accredited framework agreements.
4. Medico-Legal Services: Independent clinical evidence services including medico-legal imaging and reports for personal injury, negligence, and insurance cases. Billed per report/service to solicitors and insurance companies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Friends Medical Service is a private medical clinic in Northern Ireland providing GP appointments, diagnostic imaging (DEXA, ultrasound), specialist consultations (rheumatology, paediatric endocrinology, audiology, counselling), minor surgical procedures, and no-scalpel vasectomies. The clinic also delivers NHS insourcing partnerships, tele-reporting services, and medico-legal reports for healthcare providers and solicitors.

Product overview

Friends Medical Service is a medical clinic offering comprehensive healthcare services across Northern Ireland through a multi-location model. The core offering consists of GP Services (appointments, blood testing, ECG, medical reports, sexual health, travel clinic), Diagnostic Services (DEXA scans, ultrasound, PRP injections), Specialist Clinics (rheumatology, paediatric endocrinology, audiology, counselling, sleep analysis, sports medicine), and Surgical Services (vasectomy, minor procedures). The company also provides B2B services including NHS insourcing and tele-reporting for healthcare providers, plus GP subscription plans for ongoing patient care. Services are delivered through three clinic locations in Lurgan, Limavady, and L/Derry, with partnerships including Pendulum Physiotherapy, Blueberry Hearing, and Sleep Medical for specialized services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GP Appointment Private GP consultations available in-person or via video. Offers same-day appointments with 15, 30, or 45-minute sessions for acute illnesses and complex chronic conditions, targeted at self-paying individuals and families.
• Blood Testing & Health Checks Private blood tests and health checks with GP consultation included. Packages include Tired All The Time, Everyman/Everywoman, Comprehensive Health Check, Male/Female Fertility, Sports Performance, Post Viral/Long Covid, Heart Health, and Full Blood Count panels.
• ECG Electrocardiogram test that records the electrical activity of the heart to detect irregular heart rhythms and cardiac conditions, including a GP appointment for review.
• Medical Reports GP-handled medical reports and certifications including sports medical reports, driving medical reports, pre-employment medicals, visa/immigration reports, insurance reports, and fitness to travel certificates.
• Sexual Health Sexual health screenings including STI testing for Chlamydia, Gonorrhoeae, Syphilis, Herpes, HIV, Hepatitis B and C, including a 15-minute GP consultation.
• Travel Clinic Travel vaccination and health advice offering Hepatitis A, Tetanus, Typhoid, Hepatitis B, Malaria, Diphtheria, HPV, and Polio vaccines, with GP consultation and vaccination administration.
• DEXA (Bone Density) Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry scan for measuring bone mineral density and assessing osteoporosis and fracture risk, using gold standard diagnostic imaging for bone health evaluation.
• PRP Injection Platelet-Rich Plasma therapy using concentrated platelets from the patient's own blood to stimulate natural healing, used for sports injuries, joint pain, tendon injuries, ligament tears, muscle strains, and osteoarthritis pain.
• Ultrasound & Ultrasound Guided Injection Diagnostic ultrasound imaging and ultrasound-guided steroid injections for precise treatment of musculoskeletal conditions, including general abdominal/pelvic scans, musculoskeletal scans, and transvaginal ultrasound.
• Counselling BACP-registered counselling for individuals aged 16+ addressing stress, anxiety, depression, bereavement, trauma, relationship difficulties, and work-related stress, available in-person at Lurgan clinic or online via video.
• Audiology Hearing tests and ear wax removal services provided by Blueberry Hearing, including hearing assessments, ear wax removal (clinic and home visit), and hearing aid provision with qualified audiologists registered with BSHAA, ISHAA, and HCPC.
• Lung Function Test Comprehensive pulmonary function testing including spirometry, FENO testing, and assessment for suspected asthma or COPD, detecting presence or absence of airway/lung disease.
• Paediatric Endocrinology Specialist hormonal care for children and adolescents covering growth disorders, puberty issues, thyroid disorders, diabetes mellitus, adrenal disorders, pituitary disorders, and calcium/bone metabolism disorders.
• Rheumatology Consultant-led rheumatology service treating acute and chronic joint, muscle, and tendon disorders including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, gout, lupus, and fibromyalgia.
• Sleep Analysis Home sleep studies conducted in partnership with Sleep Medical, monitoring breathing, heart rate, and sleep patterns to diagnose obstructive sleep apnoea and provide detailed reports with personalized recommendations.
• Sports Injury & Physio Physiotherapy and sports injury services delivered in partnership with Pendulum Physiotherapy, including injury rehabilitation, post-surgery recovery, sports performance packages, and GP medical reports for sporting bodies.
• No Scalpel Vasectomy Minimally invasive vasectomy procedure using the no-scalpel technique under local anaesthetic, featuring tiny puncture access, no stitches, minimal bleeding, and faster recovery.
• Minor Surgical Procedures Minor surgical procedures including skin tag removal, mole removal, excision of skin lesions, split ear lobe repair, and scar revision, performed under local anaesthetic on an outpatient basis.
• Insourcing Integrated NHS insourcing services providing 7-day clinical pathway support, embedding additional staff and resources into NHS daily operations to increase capacity for complex procedures and reduce waiting times.
• Medico-Legal Reports Independent medico-legal imaging and reports for personal injury claims, negligence cases, and insurance disputes, including ultrasound scans, physiotherapy assessments, and CPR Part 35 compliant reports.
• Tele-Reporting Remote radiology reporting service for NHS partners providing specialist reports with rapid turnaround times and 99% reporting accuracy, available 24/7 with NHS-approved workflows.
• GP Subscriptions Monthly subscription plans offering direct GP access including Care For Me, Care For Me+, Care For Us, and Care For Us+ tiers, including discounted services and priority booking.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100k+ patients served since 2020
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HSC Trusts (Northern Ireland)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Long-standing partnerships with Health and Social Care trusts across Northern Ireland established in 2020 during the pandemic. Initially supported HSC trusts in reducing ultrasound waiting times and have expanded to provide integrated clinical pathway support including diagnostic imaging and capacity expansion services.
• Sleep MedicalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Sleep Medical for comprehensive home sleep study services. Sleep Medical provides diagnostic kits and technical expertise while Friends Medical provides GP referrals and management coordination for patients with sleep disorders including obstructive sleep apnoea.
• Pendulum PhysiotherapycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Pendulum Physiotherapy to deliver comprehensive physiotherapy and rehabilitation services. Pendulum's specialist physiotherapists provide sports injury treatment, post-surgery rehabilitation, and performance optimization alongside Friends Medical's healthcare services.
• Blueberry HearingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily enterprise providing audiology services including hearing tests, ear wax removal, and hearing aids at Friends Medical locations. All audiologists are qualified to UK and Irish standards and registered with BSHAA, ISHAA, and HCPC.
• National Flexible Framework for On-Site Surgical & Medical CapacitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFramework agreement reference F/044/OSMCS/21/IB for on-site surgical and medical capacity services supporting NHS capacity expansion initiatives across Northern Ireland.
• Wales Framework Agreement for Clinical, Surgical & Diagnostic ProceduresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFramework agreement for clinical, surgical, and diagnostic procedures in Wales enabling service expansion beyond Northern Ireland.
• Health Trust Europe - Total Workforce Solutions IIIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFramework agreement (2025/S 000-016120) for total workforce solutions enabling NHS staffing and capacity support services.
• National Framework for Teleradiology, Telepathology & TelemedicinecoreTechnology or IntegrationFramework agreement reference F/083/TSS/22/AB for teleradiology services enabling remote diagnostic reporting across healthcare providers.
• NHS SBS Framework for Reporting Services - TeleradiologycoreTechnology or IntegrationNHS Shared Business Services framework for teleradiology reporting services enabling digital diagnostic reporting workflows.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Spire Healthcare: Largest UK private hospital group offering private GP consultations, diagnostics, and surgical services across 38 hospitals. Comparable in providing multi-specialty private healthcare to self-pay and insured patients, but at significantly greater scale and geographic reach than Friends Medical Service.
• Circle Health Group: UK private hospital group operating 50+ facilities with strong NHS partnership and insourcing activity. Comparable NHS insourcing and private-pay mix, though at substantially larger scale than Friends Medical Service.
• HCA Healthcare UK: Premium private hospital network in London and Manchester offering diagnostics, specialist consultations, and complex surgery. Comparable in private multi-specialty delivery and accreditation-driven positioning, though focused on the high-end insured and international market rather than regional self-pay.
• Ramsay Health Care UK: Major UK private hospital operator providing diagnostics, outpatient consultations, and surgery. Comparable private multi-specialty service model, with additional scale advantage from operating 34 hospitals across England.
• Bupa Health Clinics: UK-wide network of private GP and health clinics offering same-day appointments, health assessments, and diagnostics. Comparable in DTC private primary-care model with subscription-style access, though at much larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
• Nuffield Health: UK-wide not-for-profit healthcare provider combining hospitals, fitness clubs, and health assessments. Comparable in offering integrated GP, diagnostics, and specialist services, with particular overlap on health-check packages and corporate wellness programs.

Direct peers

• Kingsbridge Private Hospital: Belfast-based private hospital providing GP services, diagnostics, surgery, and specialist consultations in Northern Ireland. The most direct local competitor, sharing the same NI geography, self-pay model, and multi-specialty clinic positioning as Friends Medical Service.
• Practice Plus Group: UK provider of NHS insourcing, diagnostics, and outpatient services including tele-radiology reporting. Closely comparable in combining NHS insourcing contracts, framework agreements, and tele-reporting capabilities — overlapping directly with Friends Medical Service's B2B NHS service line.
• Ulster Independent Clinic: Long-established private hospital in Belfast offering outpatient consultations, diagnostic imaging, and surgical services. Directly comparable as a Northern Ireland private multi-specialty provider competing for the same self-pay and insured patient pool.

Emerging players

• Medicspot: UK private GP and diagnostics provider with online booking and in-clinic testing. Comparable in DTC primary-care and self-pay diagnostics model, though with a heavier digital/remote consultation orientation than Friends Medical Service.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Friends Medical Service