Published on 10 July 2025
On 8 July, Benenden Hospital welcomed Dawn Hodgkins, Director of Regulation at the Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN). She took a detailed tour of the leading private hospital, near Cranbrook, with Hospital Director Claire Harley and Director of Clinical Services Ali Turner.
The tour took in diagnostic imaging, theatres and the wards, where she met with staff who showcased the hospital’s latest innovations such as its liver scanning ultrasound and ROSA robotic surgical assistant for total knee replacement.
Ms Hodgkins met the nursing team and patients in the hospital’s Bensan Ward, where she was taken through the dementia-friendly adaptations that have been made to the ward environment.
Hospital Director Claire Harley said: “It was an absolute pleasure to welcome Dawn to our hospital. Her visit provided a valuable opportunity to discuss challenges and priorities for the independent sector as well as progress on the NHS and IHPN partnership agreement.
“Our teams took great pride in showcasing their work, highlighting their commitment to providing the highest level of care and our hospital’s dedication to innovation and improving the experience of our patients.”
Dawn Hodgkins said: “I appreciated the opportunity to visit Benenden Hospital and I always come away inspired and proud of the work that our members do.
“It was an insightful visit, chatting with teams, meeting a Nursing Associate student as well as seeing first-hand the great work the hospital is doing for patients who require surgery but are also living with dementia.”