Sir Richard Branson wrote in January 2018:[7]Over the last 50 years, I have been fortunate to build many successful companies and do not want or intend to profit personally from the NHS.
Indeed, I have invested millions in Virgin Care to help it transform its services for the better and to improve both the patient and employee experience.
If and when I could take a dividend from Virgin Care (which would make us a profit over and above our overall investment), I will invest 100% of that money back into helping NHS patients young and old, with our frontline employees deciding how best to spend it.In December 2021, the company's press release said: “Neither Virgin, nor its founder, has ever taken a penny from the business, committing instead to reinvest any returns back into the company and its frontline services.
"[9] In 2012, Virgin Care won a contract to provide services in Dorset, at the Lyme Regis Centre, for five years.
[18] This includes the Jarvis Breast Centre in Guildford, which in October 2014 was subject to an investigation by North West Surrey Clinical Commissioning Group after 35 patients were not tested within two weeks of their GP referrals during April and July.
[20] In September 2019, the company was awarded an £85m contract to run a joint project with Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust.
[21][22][23] The company won a seven-year £700m prime provider contract to run health services in Bath and North East Somerset in 2016.
[29] The organisation's contract was extended to 2027, taking it to the full 10 year term, at a slightly reduced £54.5m as a result of two services being brought back in house.
Councillor Rob Appleyard told a scrutiny panel meeting that awarding the contract was "not universally accepted" and there was "continual distrust", but "Covid was the making of the relationship with Virgin Care".