UK healthcare intelligence specialist CHKS has been bought by outsourcing specialist Capita Group Plc for £11.6m.

CHKS specialises in providing data, coding and performance analysis services to NHS organisations.

The sale was made by CHKS parent Healthcare Knowledge International, a European benchmarking performance and analysis information provider.

In the financial year to 31 December 2008 CHKS made a profit of £1.6m on turnover of £8m.

Paul Pindar, chief executive of Capita, added, "This acquisition will add important new expertise to Capita’s range of health services and effectively complements the work we are doing for NHS Choices, in developing the way the NHS connects with the public."

In 2008, Capita won a three year £60m contract to run the NHS Choices website, the online information service that helps the public to make choices about health and healthcare.