Use our industry guide to find key background information, market research, import and export guidelines, statistics, legislation, trade bodies and trade publications.
The Business & Industry Guides series is produced by the Library & Information Service for ICAEW members and ACA students.
We can compile tailored key players reports, mailing lists, market reports, benchmarking reports and industry news. Our enquiry team can also research other industry-specific information, such as taxation, for you. Call us on +44 (0)20 7920 8620 or email library@icaew.com.
Trends and forecasts
Online articles
The library provides full access to articles from leading business, finance and management journals.
Access to articles is provided subject to suppliers’ terms of use.
Croner-i Business Focus
Business Focus is a resource that provides Industry Snaphots for a range of sectors. These contain an overview of developments, trends and statistics for the industry together with an outlook for the future. Sectors covered include primary healthcare.
To find out more about Business Focus, please contact our enquiry team on +44 (0)20 7920 8620 or at library@icaew.com.
Useful links
2022 Global Health Care Outlook
Annual report from Deloitte looking at issues driving change in the global healthcare sector.
Pulse of the industry: Medical technology report 2021
Latest edition of EY's annual survey report analysing activity in the industry, financial performance across the US, EU and other regions, mergers and acquisitions, and financing.
Brexit
Going it alone: health and Brexit in the UK
Report published by Nuffield Trust which considers the impact of leaving the EU and changing international relations for health. Looks at what has already happened and at what the NHS, government and business figures expect in future. Areas covered: medicines and devices, international trade agreements, devolution, procurement, workforce, and Northern Ireland. Published in December 2021.
Beyond Brexit: food, environment, energy and health House of Lords select committee report on what the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) means for food trade, fisheries, environment and climate change, energy and carbon pricing, chemicals and health. Published 23 March 2021.
Public Health and Economic Implications of the United Kingdom Exiting the EU and the Single Market
Detailed impact assessment from the Office of Health Economics on the consequences of Brexit on public health in the UK and in the EU. It also provides an estimate of the economic impact for pharmaceutical companies under different scenarios. Published December 2017.
Market research
Market research reports focusing on this business sector are available from a number of market research specialists. In most cases these reports are available to fee-paying subscribers or on a pay-as-you-go basis.
Industry profiles and SWOT analyses
Industry profiles give an overview of market size in different countries or regions, the competitive landscape and provide a forecast of market performance. These profiles are available for ICAEW members and ACA students through the Library & Information Service.
Regional reports
Asia
- China (including Hong Kong and Taiwan)
- India
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Pakistan
- Philippines
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Thailand
- Turkey
- Vietnam
Europe
- Austria
- Belgium
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Ireland
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Russia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
Latin America
Middle East
North America
Oceania
If you’re looking for industry profiles for regions or countries not listed above, please contact the Library on +44 (0)20 7920 8620 or email library@icaew.com.
SWOT analyses examining the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for major companies operating in this sector are available.
If you experience any problems accessing these resources, please see our online resources troubleshooting FAQ.
Other market research specialists
Some free information is available from the following market research specialists, ranging from industry news to executive summaries of the reports.
Euromonitor
A full listing of reference products and research reports for the health and wellness market from Euromonitor, with a range of global, country and company level reports. Each report provides a contents listing and a useful executive summary reporting on the key trends in each country report.
IBISWorld
Business and industry research specialists offering reports on a wide range of sectors, including many topics within human health and social work activities. Report snapshots, table of contents and a sample report are available. The company also produces global industry research reports.
Mintel
A full listing of reports covering the healthcare, medical and pharmaceuticals industry with the option to view the executive summary and a table of contents for each report.
LaingBuisson
Listing of market reports for the UK healthcare sector. Reports cover market size, segmentation, trends and analysis of the political, economic and investment environment. For each report a summary, table of contents and sample pages can be viewed.
Plunkett Research
Analysis and statistical reports covering the US health care industry. Sample pages and a full table of contents is available.
Industry news
Need to find the latest news on this industry sector? We can carry out industry news searches using a range of trade titles and general business sources through our databases. To discuss your requirements, please contact the enquiry team on +44 (0)20 7920 8620 or at library@icaew.com.
Statistics on the UK
NHS Digital
NHS Digital compiles a wide range of healthcare statistics.
Office for National Statistics
The Office for National Statistics produces statistics on health and social care, including data on:
- health care personnel, finance and performance
- hospitals and health care facilities
- specialist health services.
The Annual Business Survey (ABS) from the Office for National Statistics collects financial information covering UK production, construction, distribution and service industries. Statistics available include:
- number of enterprises;
- total turnover;
- approximate gross value added at basic prices;
- total purchases of goods, materials and services;
- total employment costs;
- total net capital expenditure;
- total net capital expenditure – acquisitions;
- total net capital expenditure – disposals;
- total stocks and work in progress – value at end of year;
- total stocks and work in progress – value at beginning of year;
- total stocks and work in progress – increase during year.
The dataset Non-financial business economy, UK: Sections A to S includes statistics for:
- Human health activities (86)
- Hospital activities (86.1)
See Section Q: Human health and social work activities.
Statistics on Europe
Eurostat
The European Commission's statistics hub, Eurostat, compiles a range of data on health in the EU, including:
- main tables showing health care resources and the numbers of physicians, dentists and doctors;
Employment
UK
The Office for National Statistics publication Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) includes average employment costs within this sector which can be found in Table 14. Average employment costs are provided for full-time employees, part-time employees and all employees.
The data includes average employment costs for:
- hospital and health service managers
- healthcare practice managers
- medical practitioners
- nurses
- midwives
- paramedics
- medical radiographers
- chiropodists
- medical and dental technicians
- physiotherapists
- occupational therapists
- speech and language therapists
- medical secretaries
- nursing auxiliaries and assistants
- ambulance staff (excluding paramedics).
The annual Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES), published by the Office for National Statistics, includes total employee and employment estimates for different industries for Great Britain and the UK. Figures are broken down to show full-time/part-time and public/private splits. The dataset Industry – Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES): Table 2 includes statistics for:
- Human health activities (86)
- Hospital activities (86.1)
Other regions
Please see individual country profile pages for links to sources of national statistics.
Legislation and regulation
UK
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has a section on health and social care services, which includes latest regulations affecting this industry.
Letter to medicines and medical products suppliers: 30 March 2021
Letter from the Department of Health and Social Care. Provides industry and the wider supply chain with the latest advice and guidance in relation to contingency preparedness, initially put in place for the end of the Brexit transition period to help ensure the continuity of supply of medical goods into the UK.
Letter to the health and care sector about the UK–EU Trade and Co-operation Agreement
Letter from the Health Minister Edward Argar MP on preparations for continuity of supply, arrangements for reciprocal healthcare, health security and science, continuing data flows, and recognition of professional qualifications. Published on 30 December 2020.
Business guides
Croner-i Business Focus
Business Focus is a resource that provides practical information on many small business trades and sectors. Its Business Opportunity Profiles offer detailed insights into market conditions, legal issues and the trading environment for a range of businesses. They include: Acupuncturist, Aromatherapist, Chiropractor, Dietician, Herbalist, Homeopath, Nutritional therapist, Osteopath, Physiotherapist, Podiatrist/chiropodist and Reflexologist.
To find out more about Business Focus, please contact our enquiry team on +44 (0)20 7920 8620 or at library@icaew.com.
Atom Content Marketing guides
The Start Up Donut from Atom Content Marketing provides practical information on starting up and running a number of small business types. Guides cover a range of areas including market research, current trends, regulations, products and services, promotion and pricing. They include a number of guides for the Healthcare sector.
UK key players, ratios and trends
We can produce reports on this sector using selected information from the FAME company database. Reports are available for:
- Hospital activities
UK SIC (2007) Code 86.10 - General medical practice activities
UK SIC (2007) Code 86.21 - Specialist medical practice activities
UK SIC (2007) Code 86.22
Summaries of the three types of report we can produce are given below. You can find further information, a sample report, pricing details and an online order form on our industry sector reports page.
We also operate a bespoke reports service with results tailored to your specifications. Please contact our enquiry team on +44 (0)20 7920 8620 or at library@icaew.com to discuss your requirements.
Key players report
Our key players report looks at the top companies (by turnover) in any one of the segments within this sector. Reports usually include the top 100 companies but in more specialised sectors with fewer than 100 companies we show all companies with disclosed figures. The reports provide data on 11 comparative fields for the last available year, including:
- turnover;
- profit margins;
- returns on shareholder funds;
- solvency ratios
- number of employees.
Our reports enable easy comparison of the top companies in this sector against each other and against the sector median, average and standard deviation in each of the 11 fields.
Mailing list
A separate mailing list report is also available with address and contact details for the top companies in any of the segments within this sector.
Market reports
Our market reports look at the aggregated data for the top companies (by turnover) for any of the segments within this sector across all the fields usually found in a company report. The reports include data for the last 10 years* and enables easy comparison of trends for the whole sector. Reports usually include the top 100 companies but in more specialised sectors with fewer than 100 companies we show all companies with disclosed figures.
*Please note the number of companies for which data is aggregated will vary for any given year.
The market reports include sections on:
- key financials and employees;
- profit and loss account;
- balance sheet;
- cash flow statement;
- financial ratios;
- financial trends and changes;
- profitability trends and changes.
Valuation
BVB Insights
Annual report providing the latest transaction multiples broken down by industry. Each section includes a summary of recent deals with EBITDA, average transaction size and expert analysis of current trends within each industry.
The healthcare sector is grouped into:
- Care homes and care providers
- Medical Equipment and Supplies
- Other
- Pharmaceuticals
- Veterinary Services
ICAEW members, ACA students and Forensic/Valuation Group subscribers can download an overview of the report with headline industry multiples. Information on individual deals can be supplied by the Library on request.
UK benchmarking
We offer benchmarking reports that can be used to inform your own business strategy or help you identify value-added services to offer to your clients.
Contact the enquiry team directly on +44 (0)20 7920 8620 or at library@icaew.com for a report tailored to your own specific requirements.
Trade bodies
The websites of trade bodies in this sector are a useful source of industry overviews, contacts and statistics.
UK
- Association of British Healthcare Industries (ABHI)
- British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine (BASEM)
- British Healthcare Business Intelligence Association (BHBIA)
- British Medical Association (BMA)
- Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA)
- Healthcare People Management Association (HPMA)
- Institute of Healthcare Management (IHM)
- Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP)
- Royal College of Physicians
Europe
Americas
Global
Trade journals and publications
Trade journals, B2B magazines and specialist consumer magazines are another useful source of news and statistics.
Further reading
Articles and books in the Library collection
- View a list of articles and books in our collection on the National Health Service
- View a list of articles and books in our collection on doctor's practices
- View a list of articles and books in our collection on hospitals
To find out how you can borrow books from the Library please see our guide to book loans.
You can obtain copies of articles or extracts of books and reports by post or email through our document supply service.
Can't find what you're looking for?
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