| Type | The Benenden Healthcare Society Limited is an incorporated friendly society registered under the Friendly Societies Act 1992 (UK), registered number 480F |
|---|---|
| Founded | United Kingdom, 1905 |
| Headquarters | York, UK |
| Key people | Ken Hesketh, Chief Executive. Ted Elsey, Chairman of the Committee of Management. Jane Abbott, Benenden Hospital Director |
| Products | health & wellbeing services |
| Employees | 650 (approx) |
| Website | benenden.org.uk |
Benenden Healthcare is a UK-based mutual not-for-profit friendly society run for members, providing healthcare for those who work, or have worked, in the UK public sector. Members of approved charities, credit unions and co-operatives are also eligible. It has a membership of over 900,000, and all members and nominees pay the same flat rate per week, regardless of their circumstances. Current rate (as at September 2011) is £1.50 per person per week.
Benenden Healthcare also specialises in corporate healthcare schemes - designed to contribute to staff benefits packages and help manage sickness absence.
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The organisation that is now Benenden Healthcare was founded in 1905 to help Post Office workers suffering from tuberculosis (TB). At that time TB was rife, especially among sorting clerks. It was killing many thousands of people a year. Only the very wealthy could afford medical help or a trip to a Swiss Sanatorium to recuperate in the fresh air.
One man had a radical idea to overcome the problem. Charles Garland, a Post Office clerk himself, decided to create a mutual self-help organisation so that the less well off could get access to the healthcare they so desperately needed. Everyone would contribute a small weekly amount into a fund. It would be used to help their colleagues or themselves if they were unlucky enough to contract TB. In the early days, it was known as The Post Office Sanatorium Society.
In 1923, Civil Servants joined the organisation and it became The Post Office and Civil Service Sanatorium Society. Since then it has grown and developed into a modern healthcare organisation with its current name The Benenden Healthcare Society Limited.
The Society's Registered Office and main HQ has been based in York since October 1990, it was previously based in London.
The Society can provide treatment for many conditions, as well as help with a wide variety of surgical procedures.
In a survey conducted by Progressive Partnership in September 2008, 98% of members surveyed were satisfied with the overall service provided by the Society.
Benenden Healthcare members can receive treatment at Benenden Hospital or at specially selected Regional Treatment Centres located across the UK.
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 services provided at the hospital have moved with the times. From treatment for tuberculosis, which was its original role, to the management of chest diseases, to the current day where the hospital provides a wide range of consultation, diagnosis and treatment services for most medical and surgical specialties.
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 Service agencies are increasing their use of the hospital's facilities, as are patients who use private medical insurance or who pay directly for their own hospital care.
The hospital provides a range of clinical services which are tailored to meet the needs of individual patients. The hospital has a Modern 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 enjoys a beautiful location in the heart of rural Kent and yet is accessible by road or by rail from many parts of south and south east England.
• During the period 2006-2008, Benenden Hospital had no cases of MRSA infections compared to 10,000+ in NHS hospitals*.
• During the same period, Benenden Hospital also had no cases of C Diff infections compared to 150,000+ in NHS hospitals**.
Source: *Health Protection Agency 18th Sept 2008. **Health Protection Agency 17 July 2008.
• During the period 2009-2010, Benenden Hospital had no cases of MRSA bacteraemia infections compared to 1,800+ in all UK hospitals*.
• During the same period, Benenden Hospital had one case of C Diff infection compared to 25,600+ in all UK hospitals*.
Source: *Health Protection Agency, Sept 2010.
March 2009: The Society's privately-owned hospital in Kent, Benenden Hospital is the top healthcare employer in the UK, according to the prestigious Healthcare 100 list released by the Health Service Journal and Nursing Times in March 2009. The influential list, researched by Ipsos MORI on behalf of HSJ and NT, and supported by NHS Employers, is based on the results of an exclusive poll of the employees of registering organisations.
August 2009: Research commissioned by Benenden Healthcare in Spring 2009 showed that more people are embarking upon socially responsible spending and investing in relationships where a return is promised. Source: http://www.benenden.org.uk/healthcare/about-us/the-feelings-mutual/
December 2009: Total reward schemes offer major opportunity for the public sector. Research by Benenden Healthcare shows that holistic health and wellbeing packages could significantly improve productivity and staff retention. Source: http://www.benenden.org.uk/corporate-healthcare-schemes/latest-research#total-reward
February 2010: Benenden Healthcare launches page on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Benenden-Healthcare-Society/238727579868), Twitter (http://twitter.com/Benenden_health) and Youtube (http://www.youtube.com/benendenhealthcare).
March 2010: New website launched - http://www.benenden.org.uk with greater functionality for engagement with members.
July 2010: Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) - a leading resource for business information - categorises Benenden Healthcare as having a minimal risk of failure in the next 12 months, putting it in the top 15% of creditworthy companies. Source: http://www.benenden.org.uk/press-and-media-centre/latest-news/benenden-healthcare-in-top-15-per-cent-of-creditworthy-companies-17534
November 2010: Benenden Healthcare wins 'Large Business of the Year' at the York Press Business Awards 2010. Source: http://www.benenden.org.uk/press-and-media-centre/latest-news/benenden-healthcare-scoops-large-business-of-the-year-award-19192
June 2011: Benenden Healthcare is voted UK's 'most trusted' private healthcare provider in the Moneywise Most Trusted awards. Source: http://www.benenden.org.uk/press-and-media-centre/latest-news/society-scoops-prestigious-national-award-26402