benendenheritageproject

Celebrating a Transformation

On Thursday 26 April 2018, Benenden Hospital celebrated the opening of a new multi-million pound redevelopment.

Dr Hilary Jones, GP and TV personality, joined the staff and guests to formally open the new hospital.

Mrs Gwenda Binks MBE, Chair of the Board of Governors and Bob Andrews, CEO Benenden Healthcare Society thanked all those involved in delivering the project over the last three years.

Bob Andrews CEO Benenden Health

Mrs Gwenda Binks MBE, Chair of the Board of Governors

Staff were joined by Betty Standen who’s family first started working at the hospital in 1918. Three generations of the Standen family have amassed an amazing 147 years of employment at the hospital.

The hospital has undergone a full redevelopment across all areas. Patients will now stay in spacious single rooms with views over beaufiful Kent countryside. The whole hospital has new and modern equipment throughout.

Photograph by Hugh Turvey

Outstanding care for 110 years

How things have changed! A selection of photographs showing how areas of Benenden Hospital have changed over the last 110 years but still providing outstanding care quality.

The main entrance and reception in 1907 and now, 110 years later, part of our new atrium entrance.

A patient room in the 1950s, with two patients sharing accommodation and now, following our recent redevelopment, a spacious single room with a beautiful view of the Kent countryside.

Photograph by Hugh Turvey

The first theatre built in 1955 and one of our state of the art theatres opened in May 2017.

Photograph by Hugh Turvey

Nursing in the 1920s

Miss Evelyn Witherden was a student nurse at East Sussex Hospital, Hastings in the early 1920s. Matron’s lecture, was recorded in her note book and reminds her that a nurse should ‘never give an opinion, it is untrained to give an opinion unless asked’. I’m glad a nurses opinion is valued today.

Evelyn’s note books also contained a copy of all her exam questions. Third Preliminary Examination in 1923 is pictured below.

Operating Theatre Then and Now

Photographs of Benenden Hospital’s first operating theatre opened in 1955, compared to one of our new state of the art theatre rooms. Benenden has always been ahead of its time and continues to provide the best and most modern equipment and facilities.

Postcards Home

The postcards written by our patients during their TB treatment, provide a heart warming reminder of life in a Sanatorium in the early 1900s.

The Smoking/Recreation Pavilion Benenden

Princess Helena

On 14 July 1906, Princess Helena of Great Britain came to the Sanatorium at Benenden for a formal ceremony to lay the Foundation Stone. The fifth child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and a champion for better healthcare, Princess Helena supported many great causes including a role as President of the British Nurses’ Association.

The Princess was an active participant at several meetings as the Society developed and 110 years later we remember Helena as the foundation stone is repositioned in our new hospital.

Memories of William

William Charlton was the first postman and member of our mutual organisation to be admitted to the Sanatorium at Benenden. William arrived on 11 March 1907 having been unable to work as a rural postman for 5 months.

Age 20 years and unmarried, he contracted TB and travelled from his home in Newcastle Upon Tyne to Benenden for treatment.

Unfortunately, William was the first patient to die at the Sanatorium on 3 April 1907.

Benenden’s Inaugral Conference (1906)

It was good to remember our long and rich history of providing healthcare to our members and other patients. Charles Garland developed our mutual organisation over 110 years ago. During Benenden’s 2017 Conference in Birmingham this week, delegates had the opportunity to see Charles Garland’s handwritten notes from the Society’s Inaugral Conference held in London on 29 September 1906.

The 1st Annual Conference followed one year later on 28 September 1907. This event was held in the Memorial Hall, Farringdon, London.

The First!

The first patients were admitted to the West Wing of the Sanatorium at Benenden on 4 March 1907. When Harry Moore, Walter Peris and Robert Coles arrived, all their details were recorded in a ledger that has survived for 110 years.

Harry Moore, age 36, a married Tinsmith from Grimsby was the first patient to be admitted. The notes suggest Harry hadn’t worked for 10 months and entered Bensan with a poor prognosis. Following a stay of 8 weeks and 3 days, Harry was discharged home.

Walter Peris, age 34, a married upholsterer from Nottingham. Unlike Harry, Walter’s prognosis was good but he stayed at Bensan for 12 weeks. Having not worked for 7 months, he was able to return to work after discharge.

Robert Coles, age 24 a single gas company collector from Islington London. Robert’s prognosis was noted as ‘doubtful’ but he was discharged home after 21 weeks and was enjoying excellent health one year later.

Hearts of Oak

All three patients admitted on that first day, were members of the Hearts Of Oak Benefits Society. This Society was established in 1842 to provide a means for persons to save into a mutual fund that could draw upon and provide financial protection in times of sickness much like our own organisation today.

In 1992 the Society was renamed the Hearts of Oak Friendly Society Ltd and in 1997 relocated their office from Euston Road to Leicester. The Society was taken over by the Reliance & Mutual Insurance Society in 2007.
Reference: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=094-2322… (National Archives site with historical notes about the Hearts of Oak Benefit Society).

Keep it in the family!

A treatment for Rheumatism is recommended by Dr Balfour of Edinburgh, in the Medical Guide of 1824. He suggests the use of a tool to pommel and rub the affected part.

The picture of the gruesome tool shows a hook at the end for rubbing the toes (C and D), with a flat oval end for rubbing a broader body part. The tool should then be used like a hammer to pommel affected joints.

The fifth generation of Balfour Doctors, is working at Benenden Hospital. Thankfully, not using the gruesome tool, Alastair is one of our Consultant ENT Surgeons.

Nurse Heroes

Benenden celebrates Nurses Day today and remembers 110 years of caring. The photographs show how times of changed…..and uniforms.

2016

Walking Works!

In National Walking Month, I’m reminded that the benefits of walking have been known for a long time. Graded walking and exercise was part of the treatment regime for our TB patients at Benenden from 1907. We have photographs in the archive of our patients ‘walking the loop’. Now it’s our staff that enjoy the exercise in their lunch breaks.

Patients Walking

Patients on Graded Walk 1927