Sulis Hospital Celebrates Four Years of Purpose-Driven Healthcare
Sulis Hospital, one of the UK's first private hospitals wholly owned by an NHS Trust, marks its fourth anniversary this month with major achievements that underscore its pioneering role in redefining private healthcare with a public purpose.
From national recognition to clinical expansion, from sustainability leadership to outstanding staff satisfaction, Sulis Hospital continues to demonstrate that financial success and social impact can - and should - go hand in hand.
A Milestone Year of Growth, Recognition and Award-Winning Design
In the past 12 months, Sulis Hospital has continued its upward trajectory as a regional and national healthcare leader. In May 2025, it opened the Sulis Orthopaedic Centre - a state-of-the-art facility designed to accelerate access to orthopaedic surgeries for NHS patients across BSW.
Purpose-built for both clinical excellence and environmental sustainability, Sulis Hospital has again earned national recognition, winning the prestigious Healthcare Category at the 2024 Architecture Today Awards. The award celebrates design excellence in the built environment and applauds the hospital's innovative approach to low-carbon construction, energy efficiency and patient-centred design.
This design accolade complements Sulis's broader mission - creating healthcare spaces that promote healing, respect the planet and serve the wider community.
The hospital's exceptional year was also marked by national acclaim, having been named a finalist in the prestigious Health Service Journal (HSJ) Awards, affirming its status as one of the UK's top-performing healthcare providers for working with NHS partners to reduce waiting lists through innovative pathways and service design.
Meanwhile, Sulis earned a 90% "friends and family" score in its latest staff survey - a powerful endorsement from its workforce and a testament to the hospital's commitment to staff wellbeing, leadership development and a values-led culture.
Diagnostic Access that Makes a Difference
One of the most impactful achievements of the year is the success of the Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) at Sulis Hospital. Developed in partnership with NHS England, the CDC has delivered over 33,000 additional diagnostic appointments, significantly speeding up access to vital tests for NHS patients across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire.
Offering services such as MRI, CT scans, X-rays, ultrasound, endoscopy, sleep studies and blood testing, the CDC enables faster diagnosis and earlier treatment, helping reduce pressure on acute services and improving patient outcomes.
Reinventing Private Care with Public Purpose
Sulis Hospital isn't just another private healthcare provider - it's a bold new model that reinvests all surplus income back into an NHS Trust. Owned by the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Sulis bridges the public-private divide to enhance care for everyone, not just those who can pay.
The socially-conscious structure allows Sulis to:
- Expand NHS capacity and reduce elective care backlogs.
- Provide rapid access to diagnostics, surgery and specialist care.
- Fosters seamless collaboration between NHS and private professionals.
Investing in People and Planet
With sustainability at its core, Sulis continues to lead by example. From energy-efficient infrastructure to responsible waste management, the hospital is committed to long-term health for our patients and our planet.
Its community engagement efforts have also deepened, as Sulis builds partnerships with local organisations to promote public health, education and wellbeing across the South West.
Looking Ahead: A Model for the Future
As Sulis Hospital celebrates four years of transformative healthcare delivery, it stands as a blueprint for what the future of healthcare can be - integrated, values-driven and socially accountable.
Simon Milner, Hospital Director of Sulis Hospital, says: "We are immensely proud of how far we've come. But more importantly, we're excited for what's next. Sulis is more than a hospital - it's a movement for better care, for everyone."
Related events
Successful Community Event Sheds Light on Dementia and Parkinson's During Awareness Months
In a meaningful and illuminating evening hosted at Combe Grove in Bath, Sulis Hospital delivered a compelling public information session on "Understanding Dementia and Parkinson's" with insights from experts, marking a major highlight...