Benenden Hospital has been accredited as one of only two places in Kent where nurses wanting to return to work after a prolonged absence can update their skills.
The course, ‘Return to Practice’, has been validated by the Nursing & Midwifery Council and is for trained nurses who have been away from clinical practice and let their registration lapse for more than three years. It consists of 12 study days at Benenden Hospital, which is near Cranbrook, and a period of supervised practice over an 18 week period either at Benenden Hospital or at the students’ sponsoring NHS or Independent Trust.
The hospital is a partner institution of Canterbury Christ Church University which validates the programme, with Benenden Hospital having the sole responsibility for directing and delivering the programme.
“Through the programme we are able to provide a supportive environment in which nurses can renew their clinical expertise and return to work,” said clinical development facilitator Carol March, who is one of the tutors on the course together with the hospital’s modern matron Dee Farris.
“There is a great shortage of nurses in both the NHS and independent sectors and our aim is to help fill those posts. Here at Benenden Hospital we operate flexible working hours to help our staff cope with the demands of family life as well as work and try to make returning to work as straight forward as possible.”
Benenden Hospital is infection free and recently scooped six out of 12 of the Healthcare 100 Awards for best employer accolades. It has also recently received the seal of approval from its patients with over 99 per cent of those responding to a recent survey saying their treatment was either ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’.
Award-winning Benenden Hospital is an independent hospital providing high quality diagnostic, surgical and medical services. Its services are for everyone - whether members of the Benenden Healthcare Society which owns the hospital, NHS patients referred through the NHS Patient Choice programme or private patients.
Anyone interested in finding out more about the ‘Return to Practice’ programme should visit www.benendenhospital.org.uk.
For more information please contact:
Lawrence Christensen, Head of Communications Benenden Healthcare Society 0845 052 5787 lawrence.christensen@benenden.org.uk
or
Alison Hardy/ Georgette McCready, Maxim, on 01892 513033 / Alison@maxim-pr.co.uk georgette@maxim-pr.co.uk
Notes for editors
Benenden Healthcare Society
Benenden Healthcare is a mutual and not for profit Friendly Society, run for members. As a mutual organisation, not a medical insurer, members club together so that they can get the first class medical help they need, when they need it most.
Benenden Healthcare is one of the UK’s longest serving and most respected mutual healthcare societies. The Society has a membership of over 940,000 and is currently open to all public sector workers and their families as well as employees of organisations whose aims and objectives are compatible with the Society.
Benenden Hospital
Benenden Hospital was founded in 1907 and became the centre for hospital treatment for members of Trade Unions and Friendly Societies and subsequently large numbers of public sector employees who joined what is now the Benenden Healthcare Society.
In recent years the hospital has increasingly been able to provide services for patients who are not members of the Benenden Healthcare Society. Local National Health Services are increasing their use of the Hospital’s facilities as are patients who wish to use private medical insurance or who wish to pay directly for their own hospital care.
The hospital places great emphasis on quality providing comfortable, clean and hygienic accommodation and a range of clinical services which are tailored to meet the needs of individual patients. The hospital has a Matron – a senior and experienced professional – who has the authority to resolve problems and to make sure the patient pathway is both effective and patient friendly. The hospital recently scooped six out of 12 of the Healthcare 100 Awards for best employer accolades.
