Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin empire has moved into the healthcare market for the first time after buying a majority stake in a Cheshire company.

Virgin has bought a 75.1% holding in the medical division of Daresbury’s Assura Group, which is one of the largest owners of doctors’ surgeries in the UK.

Assura Medical runs 30 so-called GPCos, which provide healthcare in partnership with groups of GPs. They represent associations with more than 1,500 GPs, employ around 150 staff and provide services to more than 3m patients in England.

Once the £4m deal is completed, the division will become known as Virgin Healthcare.

Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson said: "Healthcare is a sector that the Virgin Group has been extremely interested in entering for some time but we have always said that the partner and the timing had to be right – with Assura we believe we have found the perfect partner.

"The Assura Medical business is underpinned by a passion for patients, a strong focus for delivering quality and safe health outcomes and a commitment to work in partnership with those who deliver healthcare.

" I am excited that Virgin and Assura will continue to develop this business, working alongside our NHS partners, to bring excellent, high-quality services right to the heart of patients’

communities."