Private clinic firm shuts down
A private health clinic has closed after running into financial problems.
Wellcare Lifestyle Clinics offered services from cervical cancer vaccinations to varicose vein removal from its headquarters in Monmouth Place.
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The firm, which was set up in 1979, went into voluntary liquidation earlier this month.
An extraordinary general meeting of the company was held in Bristol, where it was agreed that the firm could not continue in business because of its liabilities.
Accountancy firm Mazars has been appointed liquidator, although it says creditors are unlikely to get their money back.
The firm was set up by 76-year-old Dr George Walker, a retired GP who have up his NHS work in 1999 to concentrate on private practice.
Dr Walker told the Chronicle: "It's the end of an era. Because of the downturn in the economy, we thought it was best to close it.
"We're very sorry to have to close the company, and we're very appreciative of the support of our patients over the years."
He had founded Wellcare with the aim of encouraging people to be aware of their general quality of health, and to bridge the gap between the NHS and expensive private health care.
In 1999, the firm had 16 clinics across the country, offering weight management advice, anti-flu medication and even an anti-shyness pill.
In 2002, it began offering the MMR vaccination in separate single does, although Dr Walker stressed that he recommended parents choose the Government-backed combined version.
Dr Walker and fellow director Martha Cox were at the egm of the firm.
Documents presented to the meeting show an estimated total deficiency for creditors of £388,622 and suggest there were four employees at the time of the winding-up.
Creditors include health care firms such as GlaxoSmithKline, a number of doctors, HM Revenue and Customs, accountancy firm Pearson May and at least two banks.
Dr Walker himself is listed as the creditor who is owed the most money in the 129-strong list, which adds up to £319,457, through a loan account.
He and the other two shareholders - Ms Cox and Dr Sagar Dhanam - are separately owed a total of £61,129 in shares.
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by simmo20014832
Thursday, August 11 2011, 10:36AM
“I had some jabs done here a while ago.... Any idea what would have happened to the records?”
by Fishy, Bath
Wednesday, February 24 2010, 8:13AM
“Dentists have always been private but choose whether or not to take NHS patients (and how many).”
by Sax, Bath
Wednesday, February 24 2010, 12:46AM
“T Ired, I think you'll find this was a private company that had no bearing on the work of the NHS. Should you happen to take a glance at the workforce of The Bath Clinic for example, you'll find that they have a great many Consultants from the RUH working for them. Whether you agree to this principle or not, the NHS doesn't pay them for the time or work they do there for the private sector. That said, there are also a great many NHS Consultants who refuse to undertake private care too. As for 'free' training, I think you'll find that's a myth. Would you work the hours a medical student does for no pay? Junior medical staff - in other words, everyone below consultant status - have career long training mostly undertaken in their own time and at their own expense. Surely it's not up to you or I to then dictate what work they do or where they do it? The sad thing is that this is another business that has gone under with job losses for all staff from the cleaners to the owners.”
by Frank Cottle, BATH
Tuesday, February 23 2010, 11:05PM
“Funny, I thought that Wellcare was in Monmouth Place, not Monmouth Street. But then, this is not the first time that these addresses have been confused as even our MP has made the same mistake.”
by Tim, Bath
Tuesday, February 23 2010, 4:34PM
“Only hedgefund managers can affort "privet" healthcare”