Smith+Nephew and Standard Health partner on first Orthopaedic Ambulatory Surgery Centre in the UK

Rhea-AI Summary

Smith+Nephew (NYSE:SNN) has partnered with Standard Health to establish the UK's first Orthopaedic Ambulatory Surgery Centre in Poole, Dorset. The facility will provide both NHS and private patients with access to advanced joint repair and replacement procedures. Standard Health plans to expand to 10 additional UK sites within three years and reach 20 locations by 2030. The center will follow the successful US ASC model, where such facilities show 92% patient satisfaction rates and 40% cost reduction compared to hospital-based surgeries. Set to open in 2025, the Poole facility will serve thousands of patients annually, primarily NHS referrals, helping address the current backlog of over 850,000 people awaiting orthopaedic surgery in the UK. Smith+Nephew will supply its medical technology portfolio while Standard Health manages site development and operations.

Positive

• Partnership addresses massive UK orthopaedic surgery backlog of 850,000 patients
• Planned expansion to 20 locations by 2030 indicates significant growth potential
• Expected 40% cost reduction compared to hospital-based surgeries based on US model
• High patient satisfaction rate of 92% demonstrated in US ASC settings
• Access to Smith+Nephew's innovative medical technology portfolio

Negative

• Significant capital investment required for planned expansion to 20 locations
• Execution risk in implementing US model in UK healthcare system
• Dependence on NHS referrals for majority of patients

Insights

Healthcare Industry Strategist

Smith+Nephew's partnership with Standard Health to develop UK's first orthopaedic ASC represents significant market expansion leveraging proven US model.

This strategic partnership between Smith+Nephew and Standard Health marks a significant market expansion by bringing the successful US Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) model to the UK healthcare system. The collaboration positions Smith+Nephew as a key technology supplier for what could become a substantial network of facilities, with 20 planned centers by 2030.

The timing is strategically optimal given the 850,000+ patients currently waiting for orthopaedic surgery in the UK. This backlog creates a compelling market opportunity as the NHS increasingly relies on independent providers to address overwhelming demand. By transplanting a proven care delivery model from the US—where ASCs handle over 50% of outpatient procedures across 6,000+ facilities—Smith+Nephew is leveraging its established expertise in a new geography.

The economic value proposition is particularly strong. US data indicates ASCs reduce joint replacement costs by 40% compared to hospital-based procedures while maintaining a 92% patient satisfaction rate. These efficiency gains should be attractive to NHS commissioners facing budget constraints.

For Smith+Nephew, this represents more than just a single facility deal—it's potentially a scalable platform for recurring revenue across its full portfolio of orthopaedic, sports medicine, and wound management technologies. As Standard Health's exclusive technology partner in this venture, Smith+Nephew secures privileged access to a growing segment of the UK healthcare market while strengthening its position against competitors in the orthopaedic space.

Smith+Nephew (LSE:SN, NYSE:SNN), the global medical technology company, today announces a strategic partnership with Standard Health www.standardhealth.co.uk to support the development of the first-ever Orthopaedic Ambulatory Surgery Centre in the UK. Based in Poole, Dorset, the new centre will offer NHS and private patients access to leading joint repair and replacement technology for conditions such as rotator cuff repair, ACL reconstruction, knee and hip replacements, and foot & ankle/hand & wrist procedures.

Standard Health is a clinical healthcare provider, responsible for site development and operation of the facility with Smith+Nephew supplying its innovative portfolio of medical technologies. Standard Health expects to open a further 10 additional UK sites in the following three years and 20 in total by 2030.

The new centre in Poole will cover day and overnight-stay cases which make up the vast majority of orthopaedic procedures. It will mirror the Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) model in the US, where Smith+Nephew is a major partner to many sports medicine and orthopaedic facilities. Benefits derived from US-based ASC settings for both HCPs and their patients are well documented, and may include:

• Greater procedural efficiency due to streamlined workflows¹
• A 92% patient satisfaction rate for both care and service received from ASCs¹
• Decreased costs to the health system. In the US, outpatient joint replacements at ASCs reduce the costs of joint replacements by 40% compared to hospital-based surgery.²

There are currently more than 6,000 ASCs in the United States that account for greater than 50% of all outpatient surgical procedures.^3,4 The Orthopaedic Ambulatory Surgery Centre in Poole is expected to open in 2025 and serve thousands of patients per calendar year, with the majority being NHS referrals. There are currently more than 850,000 people waiting for orthopaedic surgery in the UK.⁵ As a result, the NHS commissioning landscape is reliant on independent providers to address this demand.

“The Standard Health Orthopaedic Ambulatory Surgical Centre model will bring the benefits long enjoyed by US patients to those on waiting lists in the UK,” said Craig Gaffin, President of Global Orthopaedics at Smith+Nephew. “Our expertise with ASCs and broad portfolio of solutions will ensure that facilities and patients have access to world-class orthopaedic, sports medicine and wound management medical technology to help surgeons deliver an outstanding experience.”

“Our goal is to help shape and redefine the UK independent care provider model for orthopaedics based on existing successful models and technologies globally, including empowering surgeons as stakeholders. This will provide a standard quality of care for patients as well as value for NHS commissioners which is sustainable long-term,” said Matt Byrne, Chief Operating Officer for Standard Health. “The amount of time patients must wait for a procedure in the UK needs to improve. We chose to partner with Smith+Nephew to accelerate the implementation and ultimately help deliver the success of these surgical centres.”

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 Media Enquiries

Smith+Nephew      David Snyder: david.snyder@smith-nephew.com

Standard Health     enquiries@standardhealth.co.uk

 

 

References 

1. Ambulatory Surgery Centres: A positive trend in health care. Ambulatory Surgery Centre Association. https://www.ascassociation.org/advancingsurgicalcare/aboutascs/industryoverview/apositivetrendinhealthcare  [Accessed: June 13, 2025]
2. https://www.beckersasc.com/orthopedics-tjr/outpatient-joint-replacements-at-ascs-cost-40-less-than-hospital-based-surgery-3-study-details/ [Accessed: June 13, 2025]
3. ASCs in 2023: A Year in Review - Becker’s ASC: https://www.beckersasc.com/asc-transactions-and-valuation-issues/ascs-in-2023-a-year-in-review/  [Accessed: June 13, 2025]     
4. United States Ambulatory Surgery Center Market Report 2023: https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/01/31/2820749/28124/en/United-States-Ambulatory-Surgery-Center-Market-Report-2023-ASCs-Respond-To-Staffing-Shortages-With-Automation-And-Financial-Incentives.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com  [Accessed: June 13, 2025]
5. NHS Waiting List Tracker https://waitinglist.health.lcp.com/ [Accessed: June 13, 2025]

About Smith+Nephew

Smith+Nephew is a portfolio medical technology business focused on the repair, regeneration and replacement of soft and hard tissue. We exist to restore people’s bodies and their self-belief by using technology to take the limits off living. We call this purpose ‘Life Unlimited’. Our 17,000 employees deliver this mission every day, making a difference to patients’ lives through the excellence of our product portfolio, and the invention and application of new technologies across our three global business units of Orthopaedics, Sports Medicine & ENT and Advanced Wound Management.

Founded in Hull, UK, in 1856, we now operate in around 100 countries, and generated annual sales of $5.8 billion in 2024. Smith+Nephew is a constituent of the FTSE100 (LSE:SN, NYSE:SNN). The terms ‘Group’ and ‘Smith+Nephew’ are used to refer to Smith & Nephew plc and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context requires otherwise.

For more information about Smith+Nephew, please visit www.smith-nephew.com and follow us on X, LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook.

 

About Standard Health

Standard Health Ltd is a CQC registered Private Ltd Company specialising in Orthopaedic Care. Standard Health have provided NHS orthopaedic services to the NHS in the south since 2012 with annual contract renewals. To date, Standard Health have provided over 10,000 patient episodes. Standard Health are in a Nationwide expansion programme to deliver high quality Ambulatory Surgical Centres primarily focussing on public sector work. This involves industry partnerships to deliver the latest surgical technologies to improve patient outcomes.

For more information about Standard Health please visit  www.standardhealth.co.uk

 

Forward-looking Statements

This document may contain forward-looking statements that may or may not prove accurate. For example, statements regarding expected revenue growth and trading profit margins, market trends and our product pipeline are forward-looking statements. Phrases such as "aim", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "well-placed", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "consider" and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from what is expressed or implied by the statements. For Smith+Nephew, these factors include: conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, economic and financial conditions in the markets we serve, especially those affecting healthcare providers, payers and customers; price levels for established and innovative medical devices; developments in medical technology; regulatory approvals, reimbursement decisions or other government actions; product defects or recalls or other problems with quality management systems or failure to comply with related regulations; litigation relating to patent or other claims; legal and financial compliance risks and related investigative, remedial or enforcement actions; disruption to our supply chain or operations or those of our suppliers; competition for qualified personnel; strategic actions, including acquisitions and disposals, our success in performing due diligence, valuing and integrating acquired businesses; disruption that may result from transactions or other changes we make in our business plans or organisation to adapt to market developments; relationships with healthcare professionals; reliance on information technology and cybersecurity; disruptions due to natural disasters, weather and climate change related events; changes in customer and other stakeholder sustainability expectations; changes in taxation regulations; effects of foreign exchange volatility; and numerous other matters that affect us or our markets, including those of a political, economic, business, competitive or reputational nature. Please refer to the documents that Smith+Nephew has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including Smith+Nephew's most recent annual report on Form 20-F, which is available on the SEC’s website at www. sec.gov, for a discussion of certain of these factors. Any forward-looking statement is based on information available to Smith+Nephew as of the date of the statement. All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to Smith+Nephew are qualified by this caution. Smith+Nephew does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in circumstances or in Smith+Nephew's expectations.

 

^◊ Trademark of Smith+Nephew. Certain marks registered in US Patent and Trademark Office.

FAQ

What is Smith+Nephew's (SNN) new partnership with Standard Health?

Smith+Nephew has partnered with Standard Health to develop the UK's first Orthopaedic Ambulatory Surgery Centre in Poole, Dorset, providing advanced joint repair and replacement procedures for NHS and private patients.

How many locations does Standard Health plan to open in the UK?

Standard Health plans to open 10 additional UK sites within three years and reach a total of 20 locations by 2030.

What cost savings are expected from SNN's new ambulatory surgery centers?

Based on US experience, outpatient joint replacements at ASCs reduce costs by 40% compared to hospital-based surgery.

How many patients are currently waiting for orthopaedic surgery in the UK?

Currently, over 850,000 people are waiting for orthopaedic surgery in the UK.

When will Smith+Nephew's first UK Orthopaedic Ambulatory Surgery Centre open?

The center in Poole is expected to open in 2025 and will serve thousands of patients per year.