Common funding needs in the healthcare sector
- Buying or refinancing clinical equipment (chairs, imaging, lasers, sterilisation)
- Funding practice fit-out and surgery refurbishment
- Acquiring an existing practice or partnership buy-in
- Purchasing or refinancing the practice premises
- Working capital across NHS payment cycles for mixed practices
- Investing in patient management software, telehealth and IT
Finance types that usually fit
Based on how UK lenders typically underwrite this sector, the following finance categories are the most common fit:
Asset Finance
Finance to buy/refinance equipment, vehicles or machinery.
Commercial Mortgage
Long-term commercial property purchase/refinance funding.
Unsecured Business Loan
Term loan or credit line repaid through fixed instalments.
Secured Business Loan
Larger bespoke cashflow or asset-backed debt.
Sector-specific eligibility blockers
- Sub-sector restrictions on some unsecured lenders (aesthetics, cosmetic surgery)
- Clinical equipment with limited resale market needs higher deposits
- Owner-clinician concentration risk for unsecured borrowing
- Mixed NHS/private revenue can complicate cashflow modelling
- Compliance evidence (CQC, GDC, RCVS) required as part of due diligence
How routing usually works in healthcare
Healthcare routing is typically asset-and-premises led. Clinical equipment goes to asset finance, with mainstream lenders treating dental, vet and optical kit favourably given strong resale markets. Premises purchases route to commercial mortgage providers; Allica Bank, Shawbrook and Metro Bank all have published healthcare appetite. Practice acquisitions combine asset finance, a secured term loan against the goodwill, and often a small unsecured tranche for opening working capital. NHS-revenue clinics can also use invoice finance against contracted receivables in some cases.
UK lenders active in healthcare
The lenders below publish criteria consistent with funding businesses in this sector. Final approval is always subject to lender underwriting.
Lombard
Asset finance / HP
- Amount
- £25k+
- Speed
- Not disclosed
- Security / PG
- Security/guarantees may be required
- Data confidence
- Medium
Novuna Business Finance
Asset finance
- Amount
- Not disclosed
- Speed
- Not disclosed
- Security / PG
- Asset-backed
- Data confidence
- High
Propel Finance
Asset finance
- Amount
- Not disclosed
- Speed
- Contact within 1 working day
- Security / PG
- Asset-backed
- Data confidence
- Medium
Grenke
Equipment finance
- Amount
- Not disclosed
- Speed
- Not disclosed
- Security / PG
- Asset-backed
- Data confidence
- Low / medium
Allica Bank
Asset finance
- Amount
- £25k–£2.5m
- Speed
- Not disclosed
- Security / PG
- Asset-backed; up to 100% advance
- Data confidence
- High
Shawbrook
Commercial mortgage
- Amount
- £150k–£35m; trading range £150k–£1.25m
- Speed
- Not disclosed
- Security / PG
- Up to 75% LTV
- Data confidence
- Medium
iwoca
Business loan / credit line
- Amount
- £1k–£1m
- Speed
- Instant/same-day for many
- Security / PG
- Unsecured positioning
- Data confidence
- High
Frequently asked questions
- Can I finance a dental chair or imaging unit?
- Yes, this is one of the most common UK asset finance use cases. Specialist dental and clinical equipment is well-supported by Lombard, Novuna and several others. Deposits are typically 10–15% for established practices.
- What finance options exist for buying a practice?
- Practice acquisitions usually combine a secured loan against goodwill and equipment, a commercial mortgage on the premises if freehold, and sometimes an unsecured tranche for opening costs. Specialist healthcare brokers and lenders structure these regularly.
- Are there lenders restricted from healthcare?
- Some unsecured lenders exclude aesthetics, cosmetic surgery and a handful of sub-sectors. Mainstream dental, vet, optical, physio and GP services are well-served. Always confirm sector appetite before applying.
- How does NHS revenue affect lending decisions?
- NHS contracts are seen as low credit risk but payment timing can be slow. Lenders typically credit NHS revenue at full value for affordability and may consider invoice finance against contracted NHS payments.
- What deposit will be required on clinical equipment?
- Mainstream UK lenders ask 10–15% on new clinical equipment for established practices, rising to 20–30% for new practices or specialised single-purpose kit with weaker resale market.
Related use cases
Eligibility checks for this sector
Each finance type has its own eligibility signals. The pages below explain what UK lenders typically look at — criteria can change and final decisions are subject to lender underwriting.