Kent-based Benenden Hospital Trust has triumphed as the top healthcare employer in the UK for the third year running, according to the prestigious Healthcare 100 list released today by the Health Service Journal and Nursing Times.
The influential list, researched by Ipsos MORI on behalf of the Health Service Journal (HSJ) and Nursing Times (NT), and supported by NHS Employers, is based on the results of an exclusive poll of the staff of registering organisations.
The awards are open to both NHS and independent healthcare providers in the acute, primary care, mental health and ambulance sectors.
The independent hospital, which is owned by the Benenden Healthcare Society, took home six awards following the announcement at a special lunch held at the London Hilton, Park Lane.
Benenden Hospital was named Top Healthcare Employer 2009; Overall Winner 2009; Top Healthcare Employer in the field of Work Life Balance (over 100 employees); Top Employer in the field of Performance Management (100 employees); Top Healthcare Employer in the field of Leadership and Top Independent Employer.
The awards’ judges praised the hospital for putting people at the heart of everything it does both in terms of patients and staff and commended the support and training given to employees. Feedback from staff surveyed was “amazingly positive” with emphasis placed on the range of benefits from the Hospital’s grounds and free parking through to the freshness in approach from senior management.
Jane Abbott, Acting Hospital Director, said: “This is a stunning achievement for Benenden Hospital. Once again the results demonstrate how much we value the people who run our hospital.
“Our patients expect the very best care and to do that we believe it is vital to have skilled, motivated and happy staff who feel they can continue to grow professionally within their roles. To win the top award for the third year running is a great pat on the back to everyone at the hospital and should make every employee feel proud of their contributions.”
HSJ and NT editors Richard Vize and Alastair McLellan said: “Good employment practice is the key to achieving the vision of safe, effective care that enhances the patient experience.”
Alastair Henderson, joint director of NHS Employers, said the Healthcare 100 awards illustrated the success that many healthcare employers had already achieved in employment practice. “These employers recognise the importance of staff engagement and are finding new ways to listen to and respond to staff,” he said.
Set in the Kent countryside between Cranbrook and Tenterden, Benenden Hospital has been cited as a ‘shining example’ by the President of the Royal College of Surgeons and has an excellent record for infection prevention and control. It is currently undergoing a major programme of investment in equipment and services and treats members of the Benenden Healthcare Society, private patients and NHS patients under the Free Choice scheme in which people can choose where to be treated.
For more information please contact Paul Keenan 0845 052 5796
