MEDIAN Group

Creating Europe’s leader in mental health, specialist care and rehabilitation.

Watch the video to hear valuable insights on founding and growing a successful business from entrepreneur and former CEO, Dr. André M Schmidt, of the Median Group as well as from the current CEO, Philipp Schulte-Noelle.

Company Profile
MEDIAN Group is a leading pan-European provider of mental health, specialist care and rehabilitation services dedicated to restoring quality of life for patients and residents through effective, evidenced, data-driven care. The Group comprises Priory in the UK, MEDIAN Kliniken in Germany and Hestia in Spain, supporting 309,000 people annually across 410 sites and through its innovative digital pathways and proprietary applications.

With an annual revenue of more than €2.0 billion, MEDIAN Group’s core services encompass neurology, orthopaedics, cardiology, respiratory medicine, internal medicine, mental health, addictions, and eating disorders, as well as social and specialist care in residential and supported living environments.

  • In Germany, MEDIAN Kliniken is the leading private provider in the inpatient rehabilitation sector.
  • In the UK, Priory is strategically positioned as the largest independent mental health provider and the second-largest social care provider.
  • In Spain, Hestia ranks as the fourth-largest private mental health provider.

Consistently measuring the quality of service, MEDIAN Group offers comprehensive care across the entire patient pathway, addressing needs from the least to the most acute conditions, from hospital to home. Its proprietary digital solutions include digital apps and, in Germany, a dedicated telemedicine centre in Düsseldorf. Currently (December 2024), 160,000 patients benefit from digital companion care, with 38,000 enrolled in digital aftercare programs, 8,000 daily digital users, and a total of 270,000 app downloads.

Throughout its three territories, the MEDIAN Group Lab serves as an innovation hub, enabling the rapid and secure testing of new technologies and therapies aimed at improving patient outcomes. Through partnerships with industry, the Lab aims to accelerate the adoption of transformative solutions, advancing MEDIAN Group’s mission to shape the therapy standards of tomorrow across the European mental health, specialist care and rehabilitation sector.

Watch the video to hear Judith Dittmer, Group Head of Digital Health, discuss MEDIAN Group’s strategic decision to develop and implement digital health applications, which have led to a distinctive position in the German rehabilitation market.

Sustainable growth
Since Waterland became a shareholder in 2011, MEDIAN Group has pursued an ambitious buy-and-build strategy completing over 25 acquisitions across Germany, the UK and Spain. Alongside this growth, MEDIAN Group has made significant investments in advanced treatments, workforce development, digital transformation, and the modernisation of its clinical facilities. With Waterland’s support, MEDIAN Group’s 2030 strategy is focused on continuing to consolidate the European mental health, specialist care and rehabilitation market – accelerating organic growth to broad and deepen its service offering, while continuing to lead digital transformation across its care pathways.

In 2024, after 13 years of leadership and overseeing a remarkable 30-fold growth for MEDIAN Group since 2011, CEO Dr. André Schmidt passed the reins to his successor, Philipp Schulte-Noelle. Under Philipp’s leadership, MEDIAN Group enters the next phase of development focussed on further growth, digitalisation and innovation, while continuing to provide the best standards of care and clinical outcomes for all within its care.

“The partnership with Waterland has allowed us to accelerate our ambitious European growth strategy through the acquisition of Priory in the UK and Hestia in Spain further solidifying our position as a leader in rehabilitation and mental health services in Europe.” said Dr. André Schmidt, former CEO of MEDIAN Group

MEDIAN Group and ESG
MEDIAN Group continues to develop its ESG initiatives. Examples of their achievements are:

Carbon emissions reduction

  • Emissions reductions: Reduced CO2 by 34% in Germany (2019-2023) and 20% in UK (2020-2023) and CO2-free clinic pilot launched by MEDIAN Germany, aiming for Zero CO2 by 2050
  • Investment in sustainability: Almost €30 million for photovoltaic panels across 141 facilities in Germany, the UK and Spain, reducing CO2 and energy costs by €4 million
  • Renewable energy: 100% of electricity at Priory is from renewable sources
  • Electric vehicles: Priory UK offers electric car salary sacrifice schemes
  • Waste management: At Priory, 99.93% of waste was diverted from landfills, with 34.39% recycled in 2023

Diversity, equity and inclusion

  • Workforce diversity: Women made up 71.2% of the workforce in 2023, Priory and Hestia have female CEOs
  • Diversity initiatives: Signed the “Charta der Vielfalt” in Germany and added ‘belonging’ to corporate values
  • Colleague networks: Priory has 9 networks offering peer support and safe spaces
  • Ranked for social good: MEDIAN Kliniken placed 13th among top employers for social impact in 2023
  • Charity support: MEDIAN Group raises funds for various causes, including refugees and charities like MIND
  • Priory is partnered with the UK charity Chasing the Stigma which supports people to access a range of resources via a unique and free online directory called The Hub of Hope.

Compliance

  • MEDIAN Group ensures high-quality care through transparent collaboration with partners, regulators, and funders
  • Annual quality reports and regulator ratings for MEDIAN Kliniken and Priory are published via its websites and shared with key stakeholders
  • Risk management at Priory includes oversight by two non-executive directors
  • Partners and suppliers used by MEDIAN Group are selected for sustainability, ethics, and social impact
  • All facilities within MEDIAN Group are certified under recognised quality standards (QMS Reha, FVS/DEGEMED, CQC) and DIN EN ISO 9001 has been applied voluntarily across the Group

 

 “At MEDIAN Group, our commitment to ESG principles drives us to positively impact communities, uphold ethical practices and promote sustainability. Our goal is to provide high-quality care, enhance wellbeing and ensure a sustainable future for all.” Philipp Schulte-Noelle, CEO of MEDIAN Group