Bupa cheers UK profit growth

Private medical group Bupa hailed an “encouraging” improvement in its UK arm after action to slash costs and lower medical fees helped more than double half-year profits.

The organisation posted a leap in UK underlying profits to £59.2m in the six months to June 30 from £26.4m a year earlier, reversing a recent trend for falling profits in its domestic business, which saw earnings slump 22% in 2012.