Virgin Care has entered into an agreement with NHS Surrey, under which it will run the medical care facilities in the south and north west areas of the county.

The scope of the deal also extends to some prison and sexual healthcare services. Virgin will lease the facility from the NHS until 2017 to provide health care to the community. NHS Surrey has said that the patients will continue to receive treatment by the current staff.

Virgin Care, which is partly owned by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group, signed the deal amounting to £500 million for wide variety of community health services in the county. The Department of Health assured patients that they will receive the best treatment from the provider.

Virgin Care will take over the running of Surrey Care Services including eight community hospitals. Other service that will be provided by the company include breast cancer screening, sexual health clinics, specialist dental work, physiotherapy and rehabilitation.

The deal has been made possible only after the approval of the Health and Social Care Bill by the House of Lords.