One of the world’s leading surgeons will be at Benenden Hospital, near Cranbrook, on November 26th to demonstrate new surgical techniques to over 800 specialist doctors from throughout the UK.
Members of the Association of Laparoscopic Surgeons will see Mr Heine Van der Walt operating on patients at Benenden Hospital via a live satellite link beamed direct to their conference in the River Centre, Tonbridge.
Mr Van der Walt, who is from South Africa, is an expert in upper gastro-intestinal and bariatric (weight-loss) surgery, will perform a variety of laparoscopic (keyhole) procedures. He will be assisted by the hospital’s surgeons and theatre staff and medical director Fazal Hasan and his team will give presentations on laparoscopic hernia repairs and Fundoplications.
The audience will be able to study and discuss the techniques as well as ask questions during the live operations.
“We have invested in state-of-the art operating theatres at Benenden Hospital and are delighted that the Association of Laparoscopic Surgeons is using them to beam live surgery to their conference,” said hospital director Jane Abbott.
“Mr Van der Walt is an internationally renowned surgeon and it is a great opportunity for our theatre staff to learn new techniques first hand. We perform many keyhole procedures here and once a month Mike Parker, President of the Association of Laparoscopic Surgeons, runs a clinic and operating list at Benenden hospital.”
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 as well as private patients.
The hospital in infection-free and recently scooped six out of 12 of the Healthcare 100 Awards for best employer accolades.
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 www.benenden.org.uk
Benenden Healthcare is a mutual ¬ 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. The Society has a membership of over 940,000.
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.
