Emerald Urgent Care, a Belfast-based independent urgent treatment provider, has entered a partnership with Kingsbridge Private Hospital Group that gives its patients direct referral to diagnostic imaging, specialist assessment and onward treatment. The arrangement extends Emerald’s service beyond the urgent care appointment, with patients typically contacted by Kingsbridge within 24 to 48 hours.

Referred patients can access X-rays, MRI scans and musculoskeletal imaging, with scan results returned promptly to Emerald clinicians to ensure continuity of care.

Emerald opened its first clinic in the Healthworks medical hub in Belfast in 2025 after an initial investment of £500,000, creating a team of eight healthcare professionals including paramedic practitioners, advanced nurse practitioners and GPs.

The clinic is open seven days a week and can treat up to 90 patients a day, with further clinics in Enniskillen, Derry and Coleraine announced as part of the rollout.

Emerald also runs a virtual appointments service that lets patients across Northern Ireland speak to a clinician by phone or video call, extending its reach beyond its clinics.

“Partnering with Kingsbridge enables us to offer an even more complete patient journey, ensuring that when further diagnostics or specialist input are required, patients can move quickly through the next stage of their care without unnecessary delays,” said Jonny Davies, managing director of Emerald Urgent Care.

Kingsbridge Private Hospital Group, founded in 2005, is part of Kingsbridge Healthcare Group, Northern Ireland’s largest private healthcare provider, with hospitals and clinics across Belfast, Derry/Londonderry, Newry and Sligo. The wider group is backed by private equity firm Exponent.

Raymond MacSorley, chief commercial officer at Kingsbridge Private Hospital Group, said the partnership “demonstrates how collaborative healthcare partnerships can improve access, choice and continuity of care for patients across the country”.

The structural driver is continuity of care, with the partnership giving Emerald clinicians complete visibility of the journey from initial assessment through to diagnosis and, where needed, onward treatment.

For the sector, the partnership confirms that independent urgent care providers are building referral pathways with private hospital groups to keep patients within one private care journey.

Source: newsletter.co.uk / insidermedia.com / irishnews.com / emeraldurgentcare.co.uk