A private medical facility is to continue supporting the NHS.

Benenden Hospital, near Cranbrook , has been aiding patients caught up in the NHS backlog caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Private surgeries were taken over by the Department for Health in March, but many have since returned to their previous status.

However Benenden Hospital, as part of the Independent Healthcare Provider Network (IHPN), announced today it will continue to support the NHS.

Jane Abbott, chief nurse and director at Benenden Hospital, said: "As responsible members of the IHPN we’re continuing our support of the NHS and have begun a programme of work that will see us undertake a number of treatments and procedures on behalf of local trusts, including ENT, orthopaedics, urology and imaging work.

"At the same time, we’re opening up our services to members of Benenden Health, to patients wishing to self-pay and to those with private medical insurance.”

In addition to surgical work, Benenden Hospital nursing teams are continuing to work alongside local GPs at the Ridge Covid Assessment Unit in Headcorn, where they support the assessment of patients attending the Unit.

Speaking as more patients return to the hospital, Jane Abbott said: “It’s good to see all areas of our hospital fully opened up again and it has been lovely to hear the positive feedback from our patients who feel comfortable and safe when they come to us.

"It is important we remain vigilant and equally important patients feel safe when attending the Hospital; safety and cleanliness will always be our number one priority."

The facility has not recorded a hospital-acquired infection, such as MRSA, for almost 20 years.

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